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Gweru
Thursday, February 6, 2025
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53000 hectares of land destroyed by Veld Fires

By Savious Madanhire

Approximately 53,000 hectares of land have been ravaged by Veld fires in Midlands Province since the start of the fire restriction period.

This staggering figure is lower than last year’s toll, where 76,000 hectares were destroyed during the same period hence Gweru (Somabhula), Chirumanzu, Gokwe South, Gokwe North, Kwekwe and Shurugwi have been identified as fire-prone districts in the province.

Speaking to this reporter, Midlands Environmental Education and Publicity Officer Oswald Ndlovu said no fatalities have been recorded in the province, but the devastating impact on farmers and the environment remains a pressing concern.

“Farmers in Somabhula were left counting losses when their hay bales were reduced to ashes, this is very unfortunate considering the dry spell in the country.”

“Urban fires have also become an issue of concern in the province. These fires are usually started by people who will be burning crop residues in preparation for the farming season,” Ndlovu said.

Ndlovu emphasized the importance of adhering to the fire restriction period, stating, “We would like to remind the public that we are still in the fire restriction period.

Those who start fires outside residential and commercial premises will be penalized.”
The economic and environmental consequences of veld fires are far-reaching and severe as they not only destroy crops, forests, grazing land, livestock and property but also endanger biodiversity, water sources and air quality.

Furthermore, veld fires lead to severe environmental degradation as they reduce land cover thus exposing the land to agents of accelerated soil erosion, changes in the hydrological cycle, increase in overland flow or surface runoff and modifications in various ecological processes.

Soil erosion leads to the siltation of rivers and dams thus reducing their water-carrying capacity hence this likely induce floods in low-lying areas.

However, human-induced activities such as reckless disposal of lit cigarette stubs, smoking out of bees for honey harvesting, Lighting fires at road servitudes while waiting for early morning buses, land clearing, hunting, deliberate lighting of fires/arson, children playing with matches and improper household ash disposal remain the primary causes of veld fires, stated Ndlovu.

As a reminder, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) warned that the fire restriction period, which began on the first of July and ends on 30 November, prohibits starting fires outside residential and commercial premises hence those found guilty of doing so will face penalties.

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