The ManicaPost
Post Reporter
WITH the onset of the fire season, farmers have been reminded to construct fireguards around their properties and prevent the spread of uncontrolled veld fires.
The fire season starts on July 31 and ends on October 31.
Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) Manicaland provincial manager, Mr Dennis Chisevure said constructing fireguards is an adaptation measure in the face of the ever-changing climate and helps reduce the threat of fires.
He said farmers are obliged to construct standard fireguards because they are essential in protecting property and living organisms, including human beings.
Farmers were also urged to form coordinated fire-fighting teams in their areas.
The Forest Act (CAP 19:05) and Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection Regulations Statutory Instrument Number 7 of 2007 makes it mandatory to put in place standard fireguards as pre-suppression measures that prevent fires from spreading.
A fireguard is a belt of cleared land on the boundaries of a property that has all flammable material removed to reduce combustion in order to control the spread of uncontrolled veld fires.
A standard fireguard must measure nine metres wide on either side of the boundary line or fence.
Manicaland is among provinces at extreme risk of veld fires alongside Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East.
Zimbabwe is in a high risk category of 65.2 percent vulnerability to veld fires due to the heavy rains received during the 2020/21 season.
Post Reporter
WITH the fire season already upon us, farmers in Manicaland Province have been reminded to construct fireguards around their properties and prevent the spread of uncontrolled veld fires.
In Zimbabwe the fire season stretches from the end of July to the onset of the first rains.
The Zimbabwe Farmers Union’s (ZFU) Manicaland provincial manager Mr Dennis Chisevure said constructing fireguards is an adaptation measure in the face of the ever-changing climate and helps to reduce the threat of fires.
He said farmers are obliged to construct standard fireguards because they are essential in protecting property and living organisms, including human beings.
Farmers were also urged to form coordinated fire-fighting teams in their areas.
The Forest Act (CAP 19:05) and Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection Regulations Statutory Instrument Number 7 of 2007 makes it mandatory to put in place standard fireguards as pre-suppression measures that prevent fires from spreading.
A fireguard is a belt of cleared land on the boundaries of a property that has all flammable material removed to reduce combustion in order to control the spread of uncontrolled veld fires.
A standard fireguard must measure nine metres wide on either side of the boundary line or fence.
Manicaland is among the provinces at extreme risk of veld fires alongside Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland East.
Zimbabwe is in a high risk category of 65,2 percent vulnerability to veld fires due to the heavy rains received during the 2020/21 season.
