Online Reporter
MATABELELAND South is once again staring down a familiar and dangerous enemy – veld fires. The numbers alone should be enough to shock communities into action. More than 44 000 hectares of land have already been lost, a sharp rise from the previous year, and the trend is clearly moving in the wrong direction.
Yet beyond the statistics lies a deeper crisis: the steady destruction of livelihoods, grazing land, wildlife and the natural environment that sustains rural life.
What makes this situation even more troubling is that most of these fires are not acts of nature – they are caused by people. Carelessness, negligence and, in some cases, illegal activities such as unregulated mining are at the centre of this growing problem.
A discarded cigarette, a cooking fire left unattended, or reckless land clearing can undo months of good rainfall and years of environmental recovery in a matter of hours.
This reality demands a shift in attitude. Too often, veld fires are treated as seasonal events that communities must simply endure. That thinking must change.
Veld fires are preventable, and preventing them begins with accepting responsibility at every level – individual, community and institutional.
The efforts by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to raise awareness are commendable, but awareness alone will not solve the problem. As EMA provincial manager Mr Decent Ndlovu rightly pointed out, “EMA cannot fight these fires alone.”
This is a critical truth. Fire prevention cannot be left to Government departments and law enforcement agencies only. It must be owned by the people who live on and depend on the land – farmers, villagers, traditional leaders and local businesses.
What is needed now is a stronger culture of prevention. This means practical action. Fireguards must not be treated as an afterthought – they should be cleared in time, properly maintained and wide enough to stop the spread of fire. Communities must organise themselves into fire response groups, ready to act at the first sign of danger.
Early reporting systems must be strengthened so that small fires are quickly contained before they grow into disasters.
Equally important is enforcement. The Government’s zero-tolerance stance must not remain just a statement. Those who deliberately start fires, whether through illegal mining, poaching or reckless behaviour, must be held accountable. Without visible consequences, the cycle will continue.
There is also a need to address the underlying risks. This year’s heavy rains, while welcome, have left behind thick grass and dense vegetation – perfect fuel for fires.
That means the coming dry season carries even greater danger. Communities must not wait until fires start; they must act now, reducing fuel loads where possible and preparing for rapid response.
Education must go hand in hand with action. Schools, churches and local gatherings should become platforms where the message is repeated clearly and consistently: veld fires destroy lives, and preventing them is everyone’s duty. Young people, in particular, must be engaged, as they are often both vulnerable to and capable of influencing positive change within their communities.
As Minister Albert Nguluvhe emphasised, protecting the land is directly linked to protecting livelihoods.
When veld fires destroy crops, grazing land and stored feed, they deepen poverty and undermine food security. This is not just an environmental issue – it is an economic and social one.
Matabeleland South cannot afford to treat another fire season as business as usual. The warning signs are clear, and the cost of inaction is far too high. Ending veld fires will not happen overnight, but it can be achieved through commitment, coordination and a shared sense of responsibility.
The message is simple: the fight against veld fires starts with each of us.
