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Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE has for a second consecutive year registered a significant decline in the incidents of veld fires countrywide owing largely to massive educational campaigns, an official of the Environmental Management Agency says. EMA spokesperson Mr Steady Kangata said incidents of veld fires had dropped by eight percent to 640 161 hectares compared to 696 290 hectares in terms of area burnt over the same period last year.

He attributed the decrease in reported cases of veld fires to massive educational campaigns carried by EMA as well as the general sense of responsibility of the people.

“Our statistics so far show that 1 160 fire incidents have led to the loss of approximately 640 161 hectares of forest land compared to last year’s 1 077 incidents which destroyed at least 696 290 hectares during the July to September period,” he said.

In 2012, the country recorded 1 800 fire incidents which led to the destruction of 1,3 million hectares of land and death of 16 people countrywide.