VELD fires have become one of the greatest environmental challenges which cause unprecedented damage to Zimbabwe’s natural resources, forests, animal habitat and even leading to the loss of lives and valuable property.
Simply defined, veld fires are blazes that get out of control, become wild, and destroy extensive tracts of forests, grasslands, animals, people and their properties in the process.
Between 2009 and 2014, 72 lives have been lost and close to seven million hectares of land have been destroyed in Zimbabwe through veld fires.
It is against this background that farmers and property owners are expected to construct standard fireguards before the launch of the fire season.
Failure to adhere to possible fire prevention methods and deliberately starting fire will result in penalties by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and failure to pay the fines will result in possible conviction by the courts.
In an interview, EMA, environmental education and publicity manager, Steady Kangata said it was mandatory for farmers and property owners to construct fireguards before the launch of the fire season.
“The fire season starts on July 1 up to October 31,” he said.
“During this period, no one is allowed to start open fires.
“It is called the fire season because the period is characterised by weather conditions for the spread of fires such; as strong winds, hot temperatures and arid conditions.”
Kangata said during this period the fuel load (e.g. dry leaves, wood, dead plants and grass) is high and more susceptible to fires.
Heavy rains that the country received in the previous agricultural season have resulted in long grass and healthy plants and these pose a lot of danger as they drive the spread and increase the intensity of fires.
“As we approach the fire season, it is therefore particularly important for us to take stock of the destruction caused by veld fires in previous years so that we put in place measures that will protect our lives and properties,” he said.
Kangata said research by EMA over the years revealed that most veld fires are human-induced, resulting from activities such as land clearing, hunting, smoking of bees for honey harvesting, arson, illegal mining, poaching, burning of waste and fireguard construction.
Other activities, he said, include reckless disposal of lit cigarette stubs, lighting fires while waiting for early morning buses, children playing with matches and improper household ash disposal among others.
The EMA has since partnered with a number of stakeholders who include traditional leaders, farm owners, schoolchildren, bee smokers, smokers, motorists and travellers in raising fire awareness prevention methods as a way of fighting veld fires.
Kangata said the law stipulates that all fire incidences must be reported to the nearest Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), EMA or the Forestry Commission offices within seven working days.
Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 Environmental Management (Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection) states that:
No person shall deliberately cause a fire outside residential or commercial It premises during the fire season (July 31 – October 31);
The land user, owner, farmer, lessee or designated authority is responsible for extinguishing all fires on their property regardless of the origin of the fire; and
In the case of a fire outbreak any person within the vicinity of the fire other than the user or the owner of that land must extinguish the fire.
Members of the public are encouraged to:
Ensure that fire fighting equipment is in place; bowsers or knapsack sprayers filled with water and fire beaters during the fire season.
Tips to prevent veld fires:
Keep bowsers and knap sacks filled with water throughout the fire season. Keep fire-fighting equipment such as fire beaters at an accessible central point.
Use ox-drawn ploughs, tractors or hoes to construct fireguards.
Inspect fireguards regularly to make sure that they are free of any combustible material.
Report all fire incidences to the nearest ZRP or EMA offices within seven days.
Ensure no one starts a fire during the fire season.
Organise and request Forestry Commission and EMA to train fire fighting teams for your farms or community.
Have fire alert systems such as drums, whistles and bells;
Listen to weather personnel on the fire danger index so as to improve their state of preparedness.