Fire razes 112 000 hectares in Matabeleland North

A TOTAL of 112 000 hectares of land were this year destroyed by fire in Matabeleland North, which translates to a 32 percent decline in fire incidents compared to 165 000 last year.

The Fire Restriction Period runs from July 31 to November 30.

Giving an update on the veld fire situation in the province, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) education and publicity officer for Matabeleland North Mrs Mildred Matunga said the province has not been spared from veld fires.

She said the most affected district was Hwange followed by Umguza.

The two districts have seen an increase in hectarage destroyed by fires compared to the same period last year.

While no human life has been lost, a hut was burnt in Ward 23 of Bubi District and property worth US$275 was destroyed while livestock comprising a donkey and a cow were burnt to death in Ward 8 in the same district.

“Since the onset of the fire restriction period, the province has lost a total of 112 291 ha compared to 165 544 ha during the same period last which is a 32 percent decrease.

Hwange has lost 49 874 ha compared to 44 158 last year while Umguza lost 22 508 compared to 9 951ha last year,” said Mrs Matunga.

She said land clearing and hunting remain the leading causes of fires in the province with the majority of veld fires occurring in resettlement areas and protected areas such as safari and Stateland or game parks.

Mrs Matunga said the hectarage destroyed was supposed to sustain livestock and wildlife.

She urged citizens to take precautionary measures to prevent fires.

“The fire restriction period is on us hence the urgent need to prevent veld fires,” said Mrs Matunga.

It is a punishable offence to light a fire outside residential or commercial premises during the fire restriction period.

“Members of the public are being urged to take heed of the windy and hot weather conditions being experienced. These conditions coupled with the dry biomass, exacerbate the spread of fires,” said Mrs Matunga.

She said communities must report all fire offenders to polIce or EMA.

EMA, working with other partners, has come up with comprehensive strategies to reduce veld fires and the related impact.

These include collaborations with Agritex to protect crops, animals and equipment from veld fires.

EMA has also scaled up engagements with the traditional leadership as they are the custodians of the land and natural resources in communal areas.

A total of 4 165 km in the form of fireguards protecting an estimated 80 565 ha of land were opened up throughout the province.

A total of 4 340 hay bales and 18 588 grass bundles were harvested in the province as a biomass reduction strategy.

Mrs Matunga said hay and grass bundles provide stockfeed for livestock and bedding for chickens.

She said EMA also supported communities in fire hotspot areas with firefighting equipment that included shovels for putting out fires, especially in sandy areas, electric knack sprayers and fire beaters. – @ncubeleon