Mashonaland Central Correspondent
GOVERNMENT will avail diesel to farmers participating in the Command Agriculture programme to erect fireguards around their land, Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by the acting director in his office, Mr Admore Shereni, at Ruthbery Farm in Mazowe District at the provincial fire awareness launch last week, Adv Dinha said Government remained committed to the fight against veld fires through the engagement of the communities and other stakeholders in promoting environmental stewardship.

“To those on the Command (Agriculture) programme, you can approach the provincial Command Agriculture office for possible allocation of diesel for purposes of fireguard construction,” he said.

“Government remains committed to the fight against veld fires through the engagement of the communities and other stakeholders in promoting environmental stewardship.

“It is sad that I announce that the province lost a life due to veld fires in 2016.

“I, therefore, call upon everyone to be vigilant in this year’s zero tolerance against veld fires campaign.

“As communities, there are many practices that we can adopt in the interest of environmental conser- vation.

“These include getting involved in sustainable beekeeping projects instead of using fire to smoke out bees, ploughing back crop residue for organic manure instead of using fire to clear land, keeping small animals, putting out cigarettes stumps and making use of ashtrays in vehicles when driving, composting instead of burning waste as well as putting on warm clothing to avoid the lighting of fires while waiting for early morning buses.”

Adv Dinha said Mashonaland Central recorded an 8,7 percent decrease in area burnt in the past year, leaving the province as the third most affected by veld fires.

A total of 206 319 hectares were destroyed compared to 118 219 hectares in 2017.

Mashonaland Central Correspondent
GOVERNMENT will avail diesel to farmers participating in the Command Agriculture programme to erect fireguards around their land, Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha has said.

In a speech read on his behalf by the acting director in his office, Mr Admore Shereni, at Ruthbery Farm in Mazowe District at the provincial fire awareness launch last week, Adv Dinha said Government remained committed to the fight against veld fires through the engagement of the communities and other stakeholders in promoting environmental stewardship.

“To those on the Command (Agriculture) programme, you can approach the provincial Command Agriculture office for possible allocation of diesel for purposes of fireguard construction,” he said.

“Government remains committed to the fight against veld fires through the engagement of the communities and other stakeholders in promoting environmental stewardship.

“It is sad that I announce that the province lost a life due to veld fires in 2016.

“I, therefore, call upon everyone to be vigilant in this year’s zero tolerance against veld fires campaign.

“As communities, there are many practices that we can adopt in the interest of environmental conser- vation.

“These include getting involved in sustainable beekeeping projects instead of using fire to smoke out bees, ploughing back crop residue for organic manure instead of using fire to clear land, keeping small animals, putting out cigarettes stumps and making use of ashtrays in vehicles when driving, composting instead of burning waste as well as putting on warm clothing to avoid the lighting of fires while waiting for early morning buses.”

Adv Dinha said Mashonaland Central recorded an 8,7 percent decrease in area burnt in the past year, leaving the province as the third most affected by veld fires.

A total of 206 319 hectares were destroyed compared to 118 219 hectares in 2017.