Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Online Reporter
PROPERTY worth about $US1,5 million was destroyed by veld fires last year while 18 lives were lost which is a sharp increase from last year where US$370 837 worth property was destroyed and eight lives were lost.
According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) 2022 veld fire report 1.7 million hectares of land was destroyed last year compared to 1 million hectares in 2021 which translated to a 59.7 percent increase.
A total of 7 511 veld fire incidences were recorded last year compared to 3 948 in 2021.
In October last year 10 lives were lost in Umzingwane District, Matabeleland South where farm workers were trying to put out a veld fire. The incident prompted the re- evaluation of the National Fire Management Strategy in October 2022.
Eland Lodge in Midlands and Kombani Lodge in Matabeleland South lost property worth over US$1 million after the premises were razed down by veld fires. The majority of the veld fires occurred in the resettlement areas and protected areas such as Safaris and National Parks.
The country continues to record an upsurge in veld fires as in 2020, 806 000 hectares of land was destroyed and 1 178 fire incidents were recorded.
In a statement EMA Director General, Mr Aaron Chigona said veld fires can be controlled if all stakeholders play their part as outlined in the revised National Fire Management Strategy of 2022.
“The 2022 fire season was disastrous to the environment and society as 1 753 055.9 hectares of land were destroyed and 18 lives lost. The current changes in climate and weather variations have led to changes in the fire restriction season for the first time since 2007 when fire regulations were promulgated.
“The fire restriction season will now be reviewed by the Minister on a yearly basis to cater for these climatic changes. The 2022 fire restriction season started on the 31 July and ended on 31 November as opposed to the previous years when the fire season ran from 31 July to 31 October of each year,” said Mr Chigona.
He said following the death of 10 people fighting a veld fire in Umzingwane efforts are being made to train and capacitate firefighters.
“A disaster was declared in Umzingwane on 10 October 2022 where 10 lives were lost to a veld fire incident. All efforts are being done to avoid a repeat of similar disasters through training and adequate resourcing of fire fighters. Stakeholders and development partners are urged to work with Government in bridging this capacity gap. Veld fires if not properly managed and financed can be costly and escalate to the level of national disasters,” he said.
According to the fire report a new concept of model anti-fire villages was developed and implemented in nine hot spot districts. No veld fires were recorded in the model anti-fire villages. The model consists of components such as environmental education and awareness, training, demonstrations, equipment, livelihood projects and law enforcement.
The agency issued a total of 4 233 fire prevention orders to farmers, land users, owners, occupiers, lessees, and designated authorities to put in place standard fire management measures. A total of 301 tickets were issued to offenders for starting fires and also for failure to put in place fire guards. 34 dockets were opened for various fire related offences. @DubeMatutu
Sidumisile Mabena