A FIRE risk prediction by Environmental Management Agency (EMA) for the year 2023 concluded that Zimbabwe is very susceptible to veld fires this year.
The environmental management body has already warned of the possibility of intense veld fires due to the 2022/23 rainfall season that has supported growth of biomass which, when dry, acts as fuel load.
The risk prediction made by EMA is guided through the following percentages:
- Low risk at 18,14 percent;
- Medium risk at 39,56 percent;
- High risk at 41,25 percent and
- Extreme risk at 105 percent of the total land area in Zimbabwe.
With such predictions, pundits contend it is vital for all stakeholders to come together in order to reduce the dangers associated with veld fires and to participate in veld fire management.
According to EMA, the provinces highly exposed to veld fires this year (2023) are Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Matabeleland North, while districts that fall in extreme risk are Nyanga, Mutasa, Mutare and Chimanimani.
The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mangaliso Ndlovu, has since, through Notice No. 76 of August 4 2023 gazetted the 2023 Fire Restriction Period as running from July 31 to November 2023.
EMA reported that, already, during the first week of the 2023 Fire Restriction Period, a total number of 412 fire incidences that burnt 34 193,31 hectares of veld were reported.
Global Forest Watch has also reported that there were 60 114 Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometre Suite (VIIRS) fire alerts reported in Zimbabwe between August 20 2023 and August 27 2023, of which 6,6 percent were high confidence alert.
According to the watch, this is unusually high compared to previous years going back to 2012.
Fire can lead not only to tree cover loss but can be a danger to human and wildlife.
Veld fires can also lead to severe land degradation, property damage, air and water pollution as well as destructions of yields and crops.
The socio-economic and environmental impacts of fires in the country have also seen the depletion of family resources, change of livelihoods and threat to food security.
In some communities in the country, veld fires have also had a negative impact on the educational sector with some schools’ infrastructure, equipment and materials destroyed.
Due to reports that are released every year in connection with the spread of veld fires, one can conclude that veld fires have the capacity of affecting and destroying completely various sectors of human activities and the environment.
Therefore, more effort should be put in stakeholder participation in veld fire management and encouraging a collective effort from Zimbabweans.
Most veld fires in the country are a result of human activities which include but are not limited to land clearing, arson, illegal mining, poor ash disposal, bee smoking and poaching.
It is also important to note that the majority of veld fires are prevalent in communal lands, resettlements, forests, safaris, small scale farms, national parks and recreational parks.
Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 Environmental Management Regulations states that: “It is the duty of the land user, owner and designated authority to put in place fire prevention measures; No person shall deliberately cause a fire outside residential or commercial premises during the fire season.”
EMA and related law enforcement Government arms, therefore, revealed that they will keep an eye on fire behaviour and trends in the country during this period, and all those found violating the law will be prosecuted.
Stakeholders who can participate in veld fire management include farmers, property owners, communities, traditional leaders, local authorities and Government departments.
Farmers and communities can prevent the spread of veld fires through construction of fireguards which are guided by the standards of nine metres wide on boundaries and at least four-and-half metres wide for internal fire guards.
Another important measure is to always keep bowsers and knap sacks filled with water throughout the fire season and to request the Forestry Commission and EMA to train fire-fighting teams on farms and in the communities.
Traditional leaders, on the other hand, should embrace the initiative of using cultural ways to provide fire awareness and punish veld fire offenders.
It is sad to note that the past fire season of 2022 saw 10 people losing their lives while attempting to put out a veld fire in Esigodini, Umzimgwane Rural District, in Matabeleland South Province.
In the same year, veld fires in Mashonaland East Province destroyed 174 000 hectares of land and 11 hectares of wheat.
The way veld fires continue to destroy property, the environment and cause deaths has prompted the strengthening of collaborations and synergies between the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture as well as the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, including other relevant stakeholders, for the purpose of protecting the environment, agricultural produce (crops and animals), agricultural equipment and infrastructure which is key to economic prosperity.
