LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
The Environment Management Agency (EMA) has called upon the public to report veld fire offenders as part of efforts to ensure that there is zero tolerance for the fire and to combat the effects of climate change.
There were 1011 separate fire incidents burning 126150.09 hectares as of August.
During the same period in 2022, the nation counted 747 veld fire incidents, consuming 191355.36 hactares.
The 2023 fire restriction period has since been gazetted by Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry Mangaliso Ndhlovu as running from July 31 to November 30 2023 through Notice No. 76 of 4 August 2023.
“Communities are called upon to report fire offenders to law enforcement agencies and ensure a zero tolerance to veld fires in their local areas. Let’s all prevent veld fires and protect the environment, our natural heritage. The Agency is reminding members of the public that the fire restriction period is on us hence the urgent need to prevent onset of veld fires,” EMA environmental education and publicity manager Amkela Sidange said.
Starting a fire outside of a home or business during a fire restriction period is against the law, as stated in Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007.
As a result, the Agency and related law enforcement government bodies will monitor fire behavior and trends across the nation, and anyone found breaking the law will face legal action.
According to the fire risk modeling, Zimbabwe’s total land area falls into the following risk categories: Low risk 18.14%, Medium risk (41.25%), High risk (39.56%), and Extreme risk 1.05%.
Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, and Matabeleland North are the provinces highly exposed to veld fires in 2023, while Nyanga, Mutasa, Mutare, and Chimanimani are the districts most at risk.
“This has seen the strengthening of collaborations and synergies between the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Tourism and Hospitality Industry, and all relevant stakeholders, for the purpose of protecting the environment, agricultural produce (crops and animals) and agricultural equipment and infrastructure which is key to economic prosperity,” she said.
The Agency will keep publishing daily fire statistics using the Near Real Time Satellite System (NRTSS) to locate and locate a fire as well as to determine when and how quickly it occurred.
This will help stakeholders to quickly react to fire incidents when they occur and reduce damage to the environment thereof.
