By Derick Tsimba
Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mangaliso Ndhlovu, has called on Zimbabweans to observe the National Fire Week meant to raise awareness on the management of veld fires.
Speaking recently in Harare, Minister Ndhlovu said there was need to preserve the environment from runaway fires experienced annually.
“While the fire season in Zimbabwe starts on the 31st July and ends on the 31st October of every year, this year the National Fire Week is being launched under the theme “Sustaining biodiversity – Prevent Veld Fires”. The theme underscores the importance of judiciously preserving our environment in the wake of run-away fires which Zimbabwe experiences annually.
“It is critical to remind all of us that uncontrolled veld fires invariably come with loss of biodiversity on the affected land, including, vegetation, wildlife, livestock, property, human life, and also the functionality of ecosystem services is usually impaired in the process. Pursuant to this, I wish to draw our attention to the loss of life, property and some of the earlier-listed biodiversity elements in 2019, where an aggregate total of 1 158 291.57 hectares of land was affected by fire from 1 508 fire incidences. This translates to 2.68% decrease in area burnt and 5.45% decrease in fire incidences compared to 2018 where 1595 incidences of fire were recorded and some 1 190 174 hectares affected,” said the Minister.
Minister Ndhlovu also said in 2019 the country lost property worth ZWL 5 269 655 due to veld fires.
“The negative environmental and economic impacts of the veld fires in 2019 cannot be overemphasized as the country lost property worth over ZWL 5 269 655 comprising household goods and agricultural equipment. Worse, regrettably four human lives were also lost due to these fires.
“As we forge ahead into 2020, we should aim towards a minimum of 25% reduction of burnt area annually in order to create a negative veld fire trajectory until sustainable fire management levels are attained. This can only be achieved through collective action towards prevention of veld fires. It takes a responsible community, unity of purpose and working in unison to sustainably manage veld fires and our biodiversity. Remember the African adage which says “when spiders unite, they can tie down a lion,” he said.
The Harare Post can reveal that the Minister is calling on everyone in the country to adhere to the National Fire Strategy and religious implementation of fire prevention measures to curb the surge of uncontrolled veld fires such as construction of standard fire guards that are 9 by 9 metres wide in and around all farms and homesteads.
