The ManicaPost
THE fire season, which runs from July 31 to October 31, is upon us and veld fires are already being witnessed in some parts of the country.
Simply defined, veld fires are blazes that get out of control, become wild, and destroy extensive tracts of forests, grasslands, animals, people and their properties in the process.
It is now commonly agreed that veld fires are a single significant threat to national economic recovery plans as they are destroying, not only pastures necessary for the restocking exercise, but also foreign currency generation plantations.
Manicaland has suffered huge economic losses when veld fires raze timber plantations which contribute significantly to both the provincial and national Gross Domestic Product.
So far this year, the province has already recorded 34 fire incidences, resulting in approximately 3 917 hectares of land being burnt, compared to 13 fire incidences and 3 058ha lost during same period last year, showing a 160 percent increase of veld fires.
As the fires continue, food security may be compromised as the last few years have seen fires ravaging wheat farms and maize fields among other valuables.
Over the years, veld fires have become one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, causing unprecedented damage to our natural resources, forests and animal habitat.
Apart from affecting the natural environment, veld fires also impact on the human environment.
Household assets, including livestock and capital assets, are destroyed by veld fires.
This hazard is also a threat to human life as it may result in death or injury.
Veld fires deprive people of a clean environment by causing pollution.
They pollute the environment in which people live, posing a serious health hazard through ash that can be blown everywhere.
It, therefore, becomes a mammoth task in rural communities to maintain a sustainable environment in the wake of the challenges posed by veld fires.
Despite several campaigns by environment management agents, there is, however, concern that the frequency, extent and pattern of uncontrolled fires are increasing due to human activities.
Although statutes like Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 state that in Zimbabwe no person is allowed to light a fire outside residential and commercial premises during the period July 31 to October 31 of each year, some people have continued defying them for selfish reasons.
This calls for Government to seriously consider reviewing the existing statues to safeguard the environment as well as the economic gains which are derived from the country’s forest and fauna.
Penalties for causing veld fires must be punitive so that they act as a deterrent to would-be offenders.
There is also need to put in place monitoring mechanisms to continuously review trends related to the common causes of veld fires as these provide invaluable information that will help in fire prevention efforts.
In all farming areas, the construction of fireguards should be a must do as these are the best option to minimise the risks associated with veld fires.
Fireguards are designed to provide access and a safe environment for fire fighting teams to implement controlled burning and effectively manage wildfires.
Every farmer should be reminded that fireguards must be constructed before the fire season and anyone without a fireguard during the fire season will be committing an offence.
For the country to win the war against veld fires, each person or institution has a role to play in this crucial fight.
We should all safeguard the environment as well as loss of life and property through being whistleblowers and expose all those behind the destructive veld fires.
We should all be active participants in fire prevention communities and quickly raise alarm so that the fire can be contained before causing widespread damage.
Regular campaigns against veld fires should be carried out in red zone areas.
Together we can make a difference and let us join hands to fight veld fires as the losses have a huge impact in the country’s quest to attain Vision 2030 of a middle income economy.
