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From John Murwira in HURUNGWE
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in Mashonaland West is engaging traditional leaders in a bid to maintain the province’s decline in veld fires.

The programme is part of EMA’s 2018 veld fire preparedness programme.

EMA provincial environmental education and publicity officer for Mashonaland West Mr Munyaradzi Nhariswa said the traditional leaders played a key role in all activities targeted at reducing veld fires in the province.

“The decrease in veld fires we witnessed as a province last 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,” he said.

Mr Nhariswa said the traditional leaders’ contribution in reducing veld fires, the community fire fighting teams and clubs were very effective last year.

“As part of our 2018 veld fire preparedness programme, we have seen traditional leaders engagement being key and we started here in Hurungwe District and from here we are going to engage those in Makonde, Zvimba and Chegutu as they are the most problem areas,” he said.

Mashonaland West recorded a 30 percent decline in veld fires during the fire season with Hurungwe experiencing a 39,5 percent decrease in the incidents.

Mr Nhariswa said the meetings they are holding were more of feedback gatherings where the traditional leaders shared their experiences and advise on fighting veld fires.

“The meetings were also meant to forge synergies with stakeholders and the community on veld fires prevention, build capacity and raise awareness on pre-suppression, suppression and post-suppression measures of curbing veld fires,” he said. Mr Nhariswa said the meetings also helped in facilitating the establishment/resuscitation of community based fire-fighting teams and environment committees.

“Effective and sustainable veldt fire prevention depends on efficient, well-motivated and coordinated institutions at village, farm and ward level,” he said.

EMA has so far had engagement meetings with Chiefs Chanetsa, Kazangarare, Chundu, Nyamatombo, Nyamhunga and Headman Nyamatombo.