Businesses, farmers lose US$1.2m to inferno

LIVINGSTONE MARUFU

Local businesses and farmers have so far lost a total of US$1.2m to veld fires since July 2022 more than double the losses incurred during the same period last year due to fierce winds that have exacerbated the fire in the past week.

The cumulative burnt area went up 80% to 1531 497.73 hectares as of October 13 2022 from 846 707.32 hectares recorded during the same period last year due to heavy winds that the country experienced during the past week.

The development comes as wheat worth US$800 000 and 16 people were burnt with veld fires.

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) environmental education and Publicity manager Amkela Sidange told Business Times that the effects of climate change are giving EMA a torrid time as they disrupt the body’s fire management schedule.

“So far, the country has lost around US$1.2m worth of property and precisely infrastructural losses including the two lodges, farm equipment and crop,” Sidange said.

“Cumulatively, since the beginning of the fire restriction period, a total of 6 042 incidences burning 1 531 497.73ha were recorded.  A total of 6 042 incidences have so far been recorded as compared to 3 673 incidences recorded in 2021 indicating a 64.5% increase.

“The average burnt area per incident in 2021 during the same period was 234 hectares while in 2022 average area burnt now stands at 253.48 hectares,” she said.

“This increase in the average area burnt can be attributed to heavy winds that were experienced during the past week hence wind becoming a major catalyst in veld fire outbreak and indicating a possible shift in seasons due to climate change.”

Zimbabwe is in the Savannah climatic belt characterised by dry and cold winters and hot and wet summers.

Sidange said the summer conditions before the onset of the rainy season are very favourable to outbreaks of veldfires hence the increased focus on veldfire prevention in the country to protect the environment, property and lives.

The 2022 fire restriction period will end on November 30  2022 to cater for the impacts of climate change on shifts in seasons.

Mashonaland West followed by Matabeleland North provinces have the highest total burnt areas while Manicaland and Masvingo have the least areas burnt for rural provinces.

Plantations in Manicaland have strengthened firefighting capacity by construction of fireguards, provision of firefighting equipment and training of staff in collaboration with EMA and other key stakeholders.

This has resulted in reduced fire incidences in the plantations thus also a reduction in fire incidences and loss due to fires in that Province.

Sidange said the agency was confident that it will manage veld fires but a shift in winds in the past week has swiftly changed the veld fire management bid.

“This is attributed to the dry and windy conditions that are prevailing in the country and this has persisted for longer than is usual, a possible indication of shifts in seasons due to climatic change,” she said.

EMA said the focus still remains on awareness raising and capacity building on veld fire management targeting communities that are at risk of veld fires.

The campaign for veld fire management has remained consistent since its launch in the second week of May running under the banner, ‘prevent veld fires-protect the harvest ‘.

The agency, working together with several other key entities,  will keep on facilitating more awareness programmes and monitor veld fires up to the end of the fire restriction period.

It is a punishable offence in Zimbabwe to start a fire outside either residential or business premises during the fire restriction period.

So far 25 people have been prosecuted since the start of the fire season with the minimum sentence being  one year in prison.