Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve
Victoria Falls Bureau
MATABELELAND North Province is optimistic about building on its remarkable success in reducing veld fires, having moved from being the second-highest veld fire-prone province in the country to sixth position nationally.
This positive outlook comes as the province holds its launch of the National Veld Fire Week today in Lupane.
The second week of May is set aside annually on the environmental calendar to mark the National Veld Fire Awareness Week, as guided by the Government’s Fire Management Plan and Strategies of 2006.
The awareness campaign aims to educate communities on the importance of preventing veld fires, while promoting sustainable ecosystems management through environmental education and skills transfer.
This year’s campaign runs under the theme: “Prevent Veld Fires — Protect Our Environment.”
In an interview with Zimpapers, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Matabeleland North Provincial Environment, Planning and Monitoring Officer, Mrs Sithabile Dube, said the province recorded a significant reduction in the area destroyed by veld fires during the 2024 fire season.
“The total area lost to veld fires reduced from 221 636,71ha in the 2023 fire season to 47 120ha in the 2024 fire season signalling a 78 percent decrease. All the districts recorded a significant decrease in hectares burnt serve for Binga,” she said.
Mrs Dube noted that previously, Matabeleland North had consistently ranked as the second-highest in veld fire incidences, but its improved standing to sixth position nationally reflects the impact of ongoing awareness and fire management strategies.
“In the past five years, Lupane District had the second highest statistics recorded in the province. However, for 2024 it recorded a 90 percent decrease, from 75 562,79ha in 2023 to 7 510,79ha in 2024 and this is highly commendable,” she said.
Today’s provincial launch in Lupane will feature an indaba where all seven districts will share fire management strategies, reflect on past successes and chart the way forward in addressing emerging challenges.
Mrs Dube, however, warned that the 2025 fire season could pose a high-to-medium risk due to increased biomass following above-normal rainfall during the last season.
At the National Fire Week Launch Indaba held recently in Harare, the Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu, noted that 2025 will be a unique year as Zimbabwe hosts the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Wetlands in Victoria Falls from July 23 to 31.
She said the high-risk areas are mainly in the Highveld, covering provinces such as Mashonaland Central, East, and West, Midlands and Manicaland, with extreme risk districts including Nyanga, Mutasa, Makoni, Mutare, Marondera, Chikomba, Hwedza, Harare, Zvimba, Mazowe, Centenary, Hurungwe, Murewa, Chipinge, Chimanimani, Chirumanzu and Gweru.
“The low-risk zones cover 12 percent while the area which is predicted to be at extreme risk of fires covers 18 percent of the country. The provinces highly exposed to the veld fires are along the Highveld areas of Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Midlands and Manicaland,” said Dr Ndlovu.
Dr Ndlovu emphasised the importance of veld fire risk assessments as early warning systems that guide proactive prevention strategies.
She also reminded the nation of the fire restriction period, which is defined by Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 as running from 31 July to 31 October each year.
However, due to climate change and shifting seasons, veld fires have been occurring outside this window, prompting the Government to issue annual notifications in the Government Gazette since 2022.
Communities are encouraged to invest in fire prevention measures such as establishing internal and boundary fire guards cleared of flammable material, reducing biomass through hay baling and general preparedness to avoid veld fire outbreaks. — @nyeve14
