Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
Zimbabwe is considering rolling out a national fire-monitoring system capable of detecting veldfires in forests and fields before they spread, as the country battles a sharp increase in fire incidents at the start of this year’s high-risk season.
The proposed technology, which is being discussed with Belarus, would give authorities an early-warning mechanism to detect fires while they are still manageable and complement firefighting equipment already being deployed across the country.
The development comes as Zimbabwe enters the veldfire restriction season, which runs from July 31 to November 30, with the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) placing the country on high alert.
EMA’s 2026 Fire Risk Prediction Model recorded 627 fire incidents by July 30, more than double the 303 incidents recorded during the same period last year.
Although the area burnt has declined significantly, from 186 979 hectares during the corresponding period in 2025 to 41 972,95 hectares this year, the sharp increase in incidents has heightened concern over the country’s veldfire threat.
Mashonaland East and Manicaland have been classified as extreme-risk areas, while Mashonaland West Province and parts of Matabeleland South have been placed in the high-risk category.
Belarusian representative and BiSON Agro Machinery marketing director Mr Andrei Kleinov said Minsk was ready to assist Zimbabwe with additional firefighting technologies, including a national fire-monitoring system.
“On the prospective side, Belarus is ready to assist with new equipment and technologies,” he said.
“One of the next steps in line of fire security would be implementation of national fire monitoring system for early detection of the fires in the forests and at the fields.”
The proposed system would complement Zimbabwe’s growing firefighting capacity, which includes 114 Belarusian-made Red Lion fire tenders distributed to more than 90 rural district and town councils.
The tenders, each capable of carrying 5 000 litres of water, are being deployed to fight fires and respond to serious road accidents.
Belarus is also providing training to local firefighters and equipment operators as part of the support programme.
“Over 90 RDCs and town councils have received Belarusian fire tenders named Red Lion, in total 114 units,” Mr Kleinov said.
“Belarus is supporting not only in the supply of the equipment, but also with the training on application of fire extinguishing techniques.”
The proposed monitoring system could address one of the critical gaps in the country’s fire-response chain – early detection.
Zimbabwe has already stepped up fire prevention measures, with EMA establishing 3 739,03 kilometres of fireguards protecting more than 402 000 hectares.
A further 2 781,5 kilometres of fireguard road servitudes have also been cleared.
However, fireguards primarily help contain or slow the spread of fires once they have been detected.
A national monitoring network would potentially allow authorities to identify outbreaks earlier and deploy firefighting teams before flames spread over large areas.
This would create a more integrated approach to veldfire management, combining prevention through fireguards and enforcement, early detection through technology and rapid response using trained personnel and firefighting equipment.
The proposed cooperation also marks a new phase in the growing technical relationship between Zimbabwe and Belarus.
The relationship expanded significantly following President Mnangagwa’s State visit to Belarus in 2018, when the two countries discussed cooperation in agriculture, including support for Zimbabwe’s farm mechanisation programme.
President Aleksandr Lukashenko subsequently visited Zimbabwe in 2023 and offered additional tractors, combine harvesters and trucks under a farm mechanisation programme valued at about US$66 million.
The cooperation has since broadened beyond agriculture, with fire management now emerging as another area of technical collaboration.
