Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
TIMBER plantations worth thousands of dollars have gone up in smoke in various parts of Manicaland since the beginning of the fire season in July, inflicting serious financial loss on investors, and fuelling the depletion of indigenous tree species.
Rampaging fires are a common feature across the length and breadth of Mutasa and Nyanga districts where vast tracts of commercial timber plantations were reduced to ashes.
Some of the fires were deliberately started by villagers engaged in boundaries disputes with the timber estates, and some of the arsonists were arrested by the police.
Hardly two months into the 2024 fire season, the trend is unbearable, exposing the province to increasing levels of disaster risk and financial prejudice.
Timber Producers Federation chief executive officer, Mr Darlington Duwa confirmed the destruction, adding that investigation are in progress to ascertain the extent of the damage since the onset of the fire season.
“It is true, and we have instituted investigations involving all companies, and we can only release a statement after getting reports from the investigating team. The investigation team will complete its task at the end of this month after which we will release the statistics to the stakeholders,” said Mr Duwa.
Forestry Commission provincial manager, Mr Phillip Tom said they are waiting for a detailed report from the affected companies.
Acting Manicaland provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the arrests, but had not availed the statistics at the time of going to print as he was out of the office.
Acting Mutasa District Development Coordinator, Mr Tedious Beto confirmed the increase in veld fires, blaming them for causing significant financial losses to companies and communities in the district.
Mr Beto said some suspects were arrested for setting a timber estate in Honde Valley on fire.
“The Erin Forest Estate, which belongs to Allied Timbers lost approximately 950 hectares to veld fires. The area had pine trees that were five years and below being reduced to ashes. The ravaging fire came from its boundary with Nyanga National Parks.
“Stapleford Estate also lost approximately 600ha of grown up pine trees that were between 10 and 18 years in an inferno that was caused by suspected arsonists. Some villagers in Honde Valley intentionally caused the fire, and some of them have since been arrested. They are assisting the police with investigations,” said Mr Beto.
Mr Beto added that Allied Timbers also lost 50 hectares of saligna timber in suspected cause of arson currently under investigation, and no arrests have been made in connection with the offence.
Saligna timber, also known as eucalyptus grandis, is a hardwood that is used for building, construction, poles, cladding, formwork and scaffolding.
It is also commonly used for wooden frames and doors, tongue and groove flooring, sequence parquet as well as making both indoor and outdoor furniture pieces.
“In July 2024, the Eastern Highlands Tea Plantations lost approximately 1,5 hectares of tea due to veld fires, whose cause was not established, while about 45ha were destroyed in Nyamazi, leading to the destruction of 1 350 gum trees and 1 660 indigenous trees. The cause of the fire was not ascertained and no arrests were made,” said Mr Beto.
Mr Beto said veld fire outbreaks in Mutasa District resulted in significant loss of forests and vegetation, further posing a serious threat of livestock starvation.
The infernos lead to increased loss of food availability for animals as the burning chews pastures, thereby leaving the surviving livestock facing starvation, whose overall impact is household food insecurity.
Mr Beto said there is need for improved fire safety measures, enhanced emergency planning and regular awareness campaigns to nip the veld fire scourge in the bud.
The scenario is the same in Nyanga, which has witness increased incidents of veld fires.
Environment Management Agency education and publicity manager, Mrs Amkela Sidange said 35 212,38ha have since been destroyed by fire in Manicaland, which is the fifth biggest loss in the country.
“Since the beginning of the veld fire restriction period, a cumulative total of 499 243,06ha were burnt from 1 856 fire incidences, and two lives were lost in veld fire related circumstances. Comparatively during the same period in 2023, a total of 189 191,66ha were burnt from 1 210 fire incidences.
“This means the country in 2024 registered a 161,79 percent increase in land burnt, and 53,3 percent in veld fire incidences recorded. Further analysis of the average area burnt per incident is higher at 432,45ha in 2024, compared to 316,79ha in 2023. This calls for strengthened awareness to put out fires before they burn large areas of land. EMA is on a high awareness drive and is working with law enforcement agents. So far 17 dockets have been opened.
“The agency will also continue giving the public regular updates on veld fire status using both near real time fire detection through remote sensing as well as through general periodic veld fire reports. However, the public is implored to be very vigilant when using fire during the veld fire restriction period, lest we lose environmental goods, property and life,” she said.
