THE Environment Management Agency (Ema) says veld fires have so far this year consumed 137 343 hectares of vegetation in Matabeleland South and North provinces.
However, Ema said the fire incidents in the two provinces had vastly decreased this fire season with Matabeleland North Province losing 112 291,7 hectares of vegetation compared to 165 544,5 hectares during the same period last year. Matabeleland South has so far lost 25 052 hectares of vegetation compared to 192 000 hectares in 2022.
Matabeleland South environmental education and publicity officer Simon Musasiwa said as at October 5, 2023, the province had recorded 75 veld fire incidents, most of them emanating from arson and poaching activities.
“We have lost over 25 052 hectares of land to veld fires with damage to property as well as livestock loss occurring” Musasiwa said.
Matabeleland North environmental education and publicity officer Mildred Matunga said land clearing and hunting remain the leading causes of fires in the province with the majority of the veld fires occurring in resettlement areas and protected areas such as safari and State forests and wildlife parks.
“The most affected district to date is Hwange followed by Umguza and the two districts have seen an increase in hectarage destroyed by fires compared to the same period in 2022. Hwange has lost 49,874.74 hectares compared to 44,158.82 in 2022 with Umguza at 22,508.27 compared to 9,951.10 hectares in 2022,” Matunga said.
Ema has since issued tickets to private and commercial players in both provinces ranging from Level 8 to Level 14 according to the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Standard Scale of Fines were issued for starting fires and/or not having standard fire guards in place.
“In Matabeleland South investigations are currently under way with dockets being opened as we have managed to identify a number of suspects who caused veld fires with a recent case having occurred in Filabusi. Tickets have also been issued to those who failed to construct fireguards around their properties resulting in veld fires spreading into neighbouring farms,” Musasiwa said.
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“(In Matabeleland North), one docket has been opened in Umguza district for a related offence. One case was handled by the traditional leadership through their customary courts.
“In Umguza district, a farmer was trying to burn a snake and lost control of the fire which ended up destroying a neighbour’s field fence and fowl run. The offender was charged and told to replace the destroyed field fence of the neighbour,” Matunga said.
Ema urged members of the public to be extra cautious during the prevailing windy and hot weather conditions, which when coupled with the dry biomass, increase chances of fire hazards. Communities have also been urged to report all fire offenders to promote zero tolerance to veld fires in their areas.
