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Herald Reporter

Zimbabwe has announced a raft of measures to contain an upsurge in veld fire incidences, which have spiked this year, claiming 18 lives as of October 12.

On Tuesday, Cabinet received a report on the National Status and Strategies to Manage Veld Fires as presented by Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu.

In her post-Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, said: “The nation is being informed that the year 2022 is showing an upsurge in uncontrolled fire problems threatening the gains realised in the past.

“As at 12 October 2022, a total of 5 386 fire incidences were reported and burnt 1 244 227.34 hectares of land.

“The majority of the fires were recorded in A1 and A2 Resettlement areas, protected areas such as Safari areas, national parks and gazetted forests.

“The area burnt increased by 58,6 percent from the same period in 2021. The nation has lost 18 precious lives this year from these fires.”

Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet had resolved to strengthen implementation of a number of strategies to manage veld fires including constituting Fire Coordination Teams at the district, provincial and national level.

The fire coordinating teams will work with Agritex to facilitate localised training, education and awareness of fire management.

The Forestry Commission has been directed to immediately conduct firefighting refresher courses in rural district councils, while rapid response teams would be established in all villages and wards across the country.

Modern fire-fighting equipment would also be acquired in the medium and long term while teams for fire audits would be set up.

Minister Mutsvangwa said stiffer penalties for offenders are being proposed and traditional leaders are supposed to play a prominent role in ensuring that veld fire incidences were reduced.

She added that there were plans to replenish Temporary Deposit Accounts in the districts and provinces with petty cash for prompt response to disasters using the country’s decentralised civil protection structures.

Probably the worst result of veld fires this year has been the burning to death of 10 farm workers, some beyond recognition, after they were trapped in a mountainous area while fighting a raging fire at a farm in Esigodini in Matabeleland South province.

In other parts of the country, some veld fires burnt down houses leaving people without clothes, blankets and in some cases food as their maize and traditional grains were also burnt.

Recently, Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), an affiliate of Zanu PF, handed over kitchen utensils, blankets, maize grain, and paid for the thatching of huts affected by fire in Wards 3, 5 and 6 of Zvimba South.

FAZ’s Zvimba South team leader Cde Winnie Tapfumaneyi pledged to held some villagers with the reconstruction of their badly damaged houses.

She said all that was in an effort to demonstrate President Mnangagwa’s love for all citizens mainly those affected by disasters of that magnitude.