Millicent Hungwe
About 392 183, 85 hectares of land have been destroyed by veld fires in Zimbabwe with authorities reporting two deaths as a result of the wild fires since 1July.
This marks an increase from last year at the same time, which saw an average of 126,150.09 hectares of land being burnt with no loss of life.
Environmental Management Agency Spokesperson Amkela Sidange said that the data shows a concerning trend, with an average of 157.09 hectares burnt per incident, surpassing last year’s average of 141.74 hectares.
The total number of fire incidents has also risen, from 1,011 in 2023 to 1,620 this year.
Mashonaland West Province has been the hardest hit, accounting for 52.92% of the total burnt area, followed by Mashonaland Central Province (14.45%) and Mashonaland East Province (9.22%).
The urban provinces of Bulawayo and Harare have been relatively unaffected, although peri-urban Bulawayo remains at risk.
Resettlement areas, particularly A1 and A2, have been disproportionately affected, with 50.35% of the total burnt area. Safari areas (22.52%), communal lands (9.54%), and small scale farms (5.03%) have also been impacted.
In response to the escalating situation, law enforcement has been intensified, with 14 dockets opened since the start of the fire restriction period.
The authorities urge communities to report fire incidents within 7 days and provide accurate information to aid in law enforcement.
Sidange advices farmers to implement adequate fire suppression measures and take extra precautions to protect winter wheat crops from veld fires.
“Additionally, only able-bodied individuals between 16 and 65 years should participate in firefighting efforts to minimize the risk of further loss of life,” said Sidange
