Model fire proof village established in Insiza

Yoliswa Dube-Moyo, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief

Villagers in Lochard, Insiza District, have set up a model fire village through assistance from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) as part of efforts to manage fires.

Model villages will be replicated across all districts in the country as part of efforts to mitigate damage caused by fires.

One of the main features in the model village is the construction of fireguards which many property owners do not prioritise despite it being a statutory requirement that any land user or property owner should put in place fire prevention mechanisms.

Veld fires have over the years resulted in unnecessary material, environmental and economic losses.

Communities’ livelihoods and property have been destroyed, and the natural environment depleted.

Grazing land is also destroyed with Insiza, Matobo, Umzingwane, Mangwe and Bulilima being fire risk districts.

Recently, Plumtree’s 52-bed Kombani Lodge was razed by an inferno that started as a veld fire near a Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) depot before a whirlwind lifted burning debris, which landed on the grass-thatched lodge.

EMA Matabeleland South provincial manager Mr Decent Ndlovu said villagers should unite in the fight against fires.

“We’re empowering communities to be resilient against fires. Through model fire villages, we’re teaching communities about fireguards, they should make sure their disposal of ash is properly managed, they should have fire beaters and form fire-fighting teams within communities in case of any fire so that they can quickly respond.

We’re working with the Lochard community which has already put up fireguards to prevent veld fires from spreading into their properties,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said the model village would be emulated by other villagers across all districts in the province.

“Villagers should form solid, fire-proof villages. They should also set up fire-fighting teams, have in place fire-fighting equipment and put up fireguards around their homesteads. They should always be on the look-out for fire,” said Mr Ndlovu.

He said if the model village is emulated, it would result in a fire-free district, province and nation.

“Fires are a nationwide problem and we’ll be putting these prevention measures across all districts in the province. We’re also doing trainings on fire-fighting and fire guard construction,” said Mr Ndlovu.

Property worth US$370 837 was destroyed by veld fires during last year’s fire season while eight lives were lost.

According to the EMA 2021 veld fire report, one million hectares of land were destroyed last year compared to 2020 when 806 000 ha was destroyed, which translated to a 24 percent increase.