Veld fires destroy more than 60k ha in Mash East

Victor Maphosa, Mashonaland East Bureau

VELD fires have destroyed over 60 000 hectares of vegetation in Mashonaland East Province, Environmental Management Agency (EMA) provincial manager Mrs Juliet Mavu has said.

She also revealed that Seke District recorded the highest area burnt as of September 20.

For the first time in recent years, Chikomba District was not topping the list of the districts with the highest number of hectares of land ravaged by veld fires.

This dry season the worst affected  were Seke with 17 701ha, Goromonzi 13 864ha and Marondera 8 512ha.

“In Chikomba District, 7 756 hectares were ravaged while in Murehwa 4 682 hectares were also burnt. Mutoko had 2 572ha, Hwedza 2 263ha, Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe 1 402ha and Mudzi 289ha.

“Figures on area burnt for Seke, Goromonzi and Marondera are worrisome and so far these three districts have been the worst affected. The current dry and windy conditions give room for wildfires. It is not very easy to contain the fires where there is a lot of dry grass hence we are encouraging members of the public to never start any fires outside residential and commercial areas this time of the year.

“We have already lost some valuable plantations in Marondera and Murehwa districts as well as some production infrastructure like electricity poles this fire season and this retards economic development. For the first time, Chikomba District is not leading in the total area burnt and that is all thanks to the various anti-veld fire campaigns that we have been holding in the district,” said Mrs Mavu.

She urged farmers to ensure they construct fireguards and also create firefighting teams to avoid loss of essentials due to these wildfires .

“The promulgated fire season will end at the end of this month and as EMA, we encourage farmers to have fire-fighting teams and firefighting equipment in place in the event of fire outbreaks.

“Fire guards should be at least nine metres wide or more around farms and other properties and they must be cleared and free from any flammable material.”

Mrs Mavu also implored people to report all fires to traditional leaders, EMA, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), local authorities and the Forestry Commission.