Minister of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife, Honorable Dr. Sithembiso Nyoni has raised concern over the impacts of veld fires saying they negatively impact the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and food security.
Speaking whilst officiating at the National Fire Awareness Week in Bulawayo recently, Minister Nyoni highlighted this year’s theme for the veldfire awareness campaign, which is, ‘Prevent Veld Fires – Protect the Environment and Livelihoods’ which underscores the vital connection between sustainable food systems and veld fire management.
Minister Nyoni highlighted the devastating impact veld fires have on agriculture, resulting in the destruction of crops, grain, pastures, equipment, and subsequent food shortages, financial losses, and job losses.
According to Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 on Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection Regulations, the fire season in Zimbabwe is defined as the period from July 31st to October 31st each year.
After extensive consultation, the 2024 Veldfire restriction period has been set to run from July 1st to November 30th, 2024, during which time using fire outside residential or commercial premises is prohibited.
Minister Nyoni also identified the provinces and districts most vulnerable to veld fires, including Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, and Manicaland. She listed Nyanga, Mutasa, Makoni, Mutare, Bindura, Marondera, Chikomba, Hwedza, Harare, Zvimba, Mazowe, Centenary, Makonde, Hurungwe, Murewa, and Chimanimani as districts at extreme risk.
This year, Zimbabwe aims to reduce the area burnt by veld fires to 700,000 hectares or less, compared to the 2023 target of 800,000 hectares or less, which unfortunately was missed by about 7%, recording 858,361.9 hectares burnt by veld fires in 2023.
Minister Nyoni urged the media fraternity to disseminate anti-veld fire information as widely as possible and encouraged the education sector to cascade this information to learners. She further called on all stakeholders to reduce losses due to veld fires and to maintain a zero-tolerance approach to veld fires in 2024.
The national-level launch of the National Fire Awareness Week will be held next week in Ward 21 of Shamva District, Mashonaland Central Province.
