MARTIN MAWAYA
HARARE-The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has red flagged the resettlement areas, safaris and national parks as areas that have recorded the highest number of veld fires.
In the 2022 veld fires report, EMA director general, Aaron Chigona said most of the veld fires that resulted in the loss of lives and property “occurred in the resettlement areas and protected areas such as the safari and national parks”.
Chigona said in 2022 the total area burnt increased by 60.92% from 1075 206.54 in 2021 to 1730 265.43 in 2022.
“A total of 7511 veld fires incidences which destroyed 1753 056.9 hectares were recorded in 2022. This resulted in the loss of 18 lives as well as the property,” he said.
He added that a total of 2 488 incidences before the beginning of the fire season have been recorded in 2023 and 354 320 hectares were destroyed.
Chigona added that Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Matebeleland North provinces are highly exposed to veld fires this year, whilst Nyanga, Mutasa, Mutare and Chimanimani districts are in extreme risks.
Chigona reiterated the need for farmers to collaborate with the relevant government departments to protect their farm produce as well as reducing the veld fires.
“The collaboration between the agency and the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement has to be upscaled in fire and land management to ensure improved land productivity. Fire management at farm level is critical to protect the harvest and farm implements,” hence “it is of paramount importance for farmers to have fire guards and fire fighting tools in place,” said Chagona.
Meanwhile, statistics also shows that in 2022, 34 dockets against perpetrators were opened registering a decline from 89 dockets opened in 2021, whereas 3 331 orders were served in 2022 compared to 6 071 in 2021.
