Blessing Nduku
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) kicked off the National Fire Awareness Week launch last week in Somabhula, an initiative aimed at educating communities about the importance of fire safety and prevention.
This year’s Fire Awareness Week will be running under the theme ‘Prevent veld fires, protect our environment’.
Speaking during the launch, Tatenda Forichi from EMA explained how the government has developed a fire management plan.
In 2006, the government developed a fire management plan, which was meant to activate programs towards educating communities on veld fire prevention and ecosystem management in line with the NDS1 and SDGs.
Forichi went on to advise the farmers in Somabhula to come up with veld fire suppression.
“Ward 15 in Somabhula has been affected by veld fires for two consecutive years, therefore, I advise everyone here to come up with veld fire suppression and strategies.
Let us all start to put adequate fire prevention measures in our properties. That is constructing internal and boundary fire guards which are free of any inflammable material. Bio-mass reduction through hail baling and putting functional fire-fighting teams that are adequately resourced,” he said.
Chief Bunina went on to encourage EMA to sue those who do not comply with measures to curb veld fires.
“Let us work together, I advise EMA to feel free to sue those who do not have fire guards around their properties. Let me say this, those who are found without fire guards, we will take their lands and give them to those who want to comply. We have lost a lot of properties due to these fires, hence let’s all fight against veld fires.”
According to the statistics of the 2024 fire season, a total number of 7 636 hectares were destroyed by veld fires in the Midlands province showing a significant reduction from the 2023 season whereby 84 915 hectares were recorded from the 2023 fire season.
The success of the Fire Awareness Week is a testament to the EMA Midlands’ commitment to protecting lives and property, and the authority looks forward to continuing its efforts to promote fire safety and awareness in the region.
