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John Murwira Mash West Correspondent
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has praised traditional leaders in Mashonaland West Province for playing a pivotal role in dealing with outbreak of veld fires. In an interview, Mashonaland West Environmental Management Agency (EMA) education and publicity officer Mr Munyaradzi Nhariswa said engagement by chiefs had contributed to the drastic decrease in veld fires witnessed in the province so far compared to last year.

“The decrease in veld fires we witnessed as a province this year is highly attributed to the engagements we had with traditional leaders who helped us in engaging their communities to effectively implement veld fire management measures. Through the contribution of chiefs voices, the community fire fighting teams and clubs were effective,” said Mr Nhariswa. Provincial fire statistics availed by EMA point to a drastic decline in fire incidences.

“Area burnt the whole of 2016 fire season stood at 631 622,87 hectares and the area burnt as at October 23 this year was 422 680,32. The percentage of hectarage burnt in the whole of 2016 fire season stood at 10,93 percent, and the percentage burnt as at October 23 was 7,31 percent.” Mr Nhariswa also said Mhondoro, Ngezi, Chegutu and Sanyati districts have already surpassed the 2016 fire season statistics already. Hurungwe district recorded the highest area burnt so far at 6,66 percent with Kariba being the least with 3,9 percent.