Staff Reporter
Midlands has lost 25 170ha to veld fires since the start of the 2023 fire season.
Environmental watchdog, Environmental Management Agency (EMA) revealed the statistics adding that 420 hectares of grazing land was also destroyed in one fire incident in Shurugwi District.
EMA Midlands Environmental Education and Publicity Officer, Oswald Ndlovu said three major fire disasters have been recorded so far with members of the community losing property.
“Midlands province has lost 25 170 hectares to veld fires since the start of the 2023 veld fire season. There have been three major veld fire incidents in the province where community members lost valuable property. In Zvishavane district, five huts were burnt during a veld fire that occurred in Ward 7, Mbilashaba under Chief Masunda on the 2nd of September 2023. The fire burnt 550 hectares and the affected villages include Jonyo, Njese, Pikiri, and Ngazimbi. It is unfortunate that villagers also lost five bags of maize, groceries, three bags of fertilizer, five bags of cement, roofing material, and household property during the inferno. Investigations are still ongoing but the fire is suspected to have been started by a person who was doing land preparation in his garden,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu said four huts were burned in Shurugwi in a fire whose cause is yet to be ascertained.
“In Shurugwi district, four huts were also burnt at Chakamanga and Marangarire villages during a veld fire that occurred on the 2nd of September 2023. In addition, villagers also lost a scotch cart, 17 bags of maize, five bags of cement, kitchen utensils, building materials, and household property. The fire also destroyed 420 hectares of grazing land. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained,” he said.
EMA made the clarion call for farmers to desist from using fires in land preparation as this leads to uncontrolled fires and members of the public to observe the fire restriction period.
Ndlovu said the agency and other policing stakeholders are on high alert to punish environmental law violators.
“As the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), we would like to remind members of the public that the fire restriction period started on the 31st of July 2023 and stretches until the 30th of November 2023. Community members are reminded that starting a fire outside residential and commercial premises during the fire restriction period is a punishable offense. EMA, together with other law enforcement agencies will be on high alert and all those found violating the law will be prosecuted. People should work together in preventing veld fires and report all fire offenders. Let’s join hands and prevent veld fires for the purposes of protecting the environment, agricultural produce, household property as well as preventing loss of lives,” he said.
