THE negative effects of a veld fire that gutted a primary school in Mashonaland Central province have united a province, turning it into an environment conscious society.
The tobacco growing province has in the past been one of those hard hit by veld fires which are rife during the fire season that begins late June up to October.
Destruction of a classroom block at Samanyanga Primary School in Muzarabani which serves Dunsbery, Early, Brainborn, Hilbre, Glengyle, Chikale and Idle-lodge farms was a bitter lesson to the effects of uncontrolled fires.
Now the children in the community are suffering and bearing the brunt of the biting winter season.
According to Isaac Elison, the district fire chair, the fire that lasted three days has resulted in the community fully appreciating the need to prevent veld fires.
“When the Samanyanga Primary School classroom block was gutted, property worth thousands of dollars and critical to delivering service to our children was destroyed,” said Elison.
“The fire was started by a child playing with fire.”
Rosemary Zoroni (33) said her daughter who was in Grade Zero at the time of the fire was severely affected by the destruction of the block.
“When the fire broke out, my child was in Grade Zero and the Early Childhood Development (ECD) A and B students used that block and had to conduct lessons in the open.
“Despite our attempts to fix the place, it has taken us a long time to give our children a proper classroom setting.”
Zoroni said members of the community had been forced to make sacrifices for their children.
“Parents have had to take off roofing sheets from their own houses and donate to the school so that the children can be comfortable enough to learn,” she said.
“They would rather have grass-thatched homes than have their children learn under harsh conditions.”
According to Environmental Management Agency (EMA) provincial environmental manager for Mashonaland Central, Robert Rwafa, involvement of community members has helped reduce fire incidences in the province.
“Bringing together all stakeholders in efforts to stamp down veld fires has helped in dealing with the problem,” he said.
“The principal concept behind the fire indabas we hold in areas affected most by fires is that the people should be part of solving the problem and where they are incapacitated help comes in.
“They are the people who know where the problem stems from and they must prescribe their own solutions to the problem.
“We have therefore been looking for the best practices in the province to help improve people’s livelihoods.
“Because people must derive benefits from the natural resources within their reach, we as a province have encouraged various approaches by communities which have worked very well with little interference from us.”
Mashonaland Central province has over 250 wards that have done relatively well to prevent veld fires.
Partnership with stakeholders such as the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), Tel One, Freda Rebecca and Ashanti mining companies has helped curb the uncontrolled fires.
Freda Rebecca Gold Mine’s (FRGM) Nicholas Manjengwa said environmental best practices were critical to sustainable development.
“FRGM has since 2012 put in place environmental initiatives such as setting up plantations for carbon sequestration and running a conservancy under indigenous trees,” said Manjengwa.
“Our five plantations of 12 hectares (ha) have gum tree plantations with trees ranging from 1 000 to 3 500.
“Within those plantations we have interior and exterior fireguards.
“We have also managed to do research in biodiversity studies looking at the succession of indigenous trees and that of acacia and we have discovered that they compete well in the same environment.
“Our involvement of the surrounding community in issues relating to the environment through a partnership with EMA has helped reduce fire incidences from 14 in 2010 to 4 at the moment.”
Bindura South House of Assembly member, Remegias Matangira is also leading efforts to ensure his constituency plays an active role in protecting the environment.
The legislator has competitions that see wards that are efficient in preventing fires winning cattle.
The competition overseen by EMA looks at fire prevention structures such as fireguards and environmental sub-committees in the wards.
Matangira said the environment was important in economic development.
“When veld fires break out, the environment and people’s livelihoods are lost,” he said.
“The gum tree woodlots which could be used as buffers for fires for instance could help people by improving their living standards.
“The thatch grass which they harvest and sometimes turn into hay bales if sold can also be a source of income.”
Uncontrolled fires have led to loss of lives and destroyed property key to development efforts.
Prevention of veld fires, according to pundits, can accelerate development in communities around the country.