Facts, myths of veld fires

Answer Sithole
DURING the summer period veld fires are a common feature especially on mountain sides that dot most of the Eastern Highlands and the occurrence of such fires is perennial such that its absence may be regarded by many as a premonition of bad tidings. Interestingly the occurrence of veld fires is not only peculiar to Manicaland, Zimbabwe or Africa but it is a global phenomenon that has had a lot of bad implications on many an economy and the environment, causing loss of human, flora and fauna life.

Annually countries like the USA, Canada, and Australia have to grapple with such fires doling out millions of dollars in containing them.
In 2013 one of the most popular night-spots and drinking holes around Mutare, Chapter 1, was gutted purportedly by a veld fire allegedly claiming the life of one local man.
Such are the tragic effects of these fires.

It is against this backdrop that all and sundry would want to know what the causes of veld fires are: Are they human activities or ecological factors (fires starting on their own) responsible for these fires?
Oral tradition has it that the mountains have to first burn before the rains fall.

In some sectors veld fires are actually a welcome sight, a fore-runner of good rains rather than a bad omen.
Hewett Mwenzva, a teacher at Manesa Primary School in Chipinge, said: “Back in the day, fires would start naturally in the mountains due to extreme heat from the sun. This would occur where there was ruware (plain open expanse of rock) and this was a good sign pointing to good rains for the year.”

One Dangamvura resident who requested anonymity said that during his childhood days, veld fires were connected to good harvests.
“I grew up in Dangamvura and every time Sheni Mountain was on fire it would mean that there would be abundant rainfall for the year. It is a myth we would hear people talking about but we were certain that the fire was natural,” he said.

Sekuru Mapfurire, a sangoma, concurred with this and said: “Indeed there are mysteries regarding veld fires. It is called Koma retsvatsva.
“Koma retsvatsva refers to fire that starts naturally on top of a mountain caused by sun heat. The fire would be big and it can take life. Koma retsvatsva is what people also use to generate mheni (lightning bouts)”

“However, these days veld fires are caused by men especially those who are into gathering firewood,” said Sekuru Mapfurire.
The frequency, extent and pattern of veld fires have increased to unprecedented levels due to human activities.

The Environmental Management Act 2007 (CAP 20:27) says: “No person is allowed to light a fire outside residential and commercial premises during the period 31 July to 31 October of each year.”

Despite a law that makes it a punishable offence to cause veld fire, people seem to pay a deaf ear and statistics show that human beings account for 95% of forest and veld (Savannah) fires across the globe.
This is no exception to Mutare.

The myth behind veld fires remains oral tradition as evidence has it that people cause veld fires.
An apostolic sect at Cold Storage Mountain in 2013 started fire to carry out their rituals and the fire got out of control.
The fire brigade from Mutare City Council had to rescue the sect members which had been surrounded by the fire.
Such cases clearly show that veld fires are caused by man.

One Fern Valley resident who earns a living by selling firewood said: “Veld fires are not natural; we burn the mountains in a bid clear them, so that it is easy to fetch firewood. I know that this is illegal, but it is what brings food on the table,” the woman who requested anonymity said.
Some even say that it is ignorant people who set fires to trap rabbits and other small animals.
These are the fires that then develop into veld fires.

Veld fires lead to severe environmental degradation, more specifically; veld fires reduce land cover thus exposing the land to agents of accelerated soil erosion, changes in the hydrological cycle, increase in overland flow or surface run-off and modifications in various ecological processes.

In Mutare, veld fires are a single significant threat to national economic recovery plans as they are destroying not only pastures necessary for the restocking exercise but they are also destroying foreign currency generation plantations.

Commenting on veld fires, Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Manicaland Provincial manager Kingston Chitotombe said Zimbabwe at large has suffered at the hands of ignorant citizens who neglect and do not have the environment at heart. Veld fires are in most cases a human cause.

“. . . Even the law stipulates that causing veld fire is a punishable offence.
“As EMA we protect the environment by creating awareness among people. This is done through debates, road shows and through the media. It takes human effort and co-operation to stop veld fires,” said Chitotombe.

“Mutare is prone to veld fires since it is a mountainous region and during the dry season there are large spaces of area that are vulnerable to fires. As we speak most of the mountains have already been burnt.

“It takes people with integrity to be able to feel the obligation of protecting the environment without any monitoring. So we encourage the society at large to preserve and have respect for the environment,” Chitotombe said.