The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube
THE Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in Matabeleland North has recorded a decrease in fire incidents with 6 224 hectares destroyed so far compared to 39 345 hectares during the same period last year.
EMA Matabeleland North manager, Mrs Chipo Zuze-Mpofu, said the limited incidents though devastating in their respective districts, were in five out of seven districts in the province — Umguza, Bubi, Binga, Hwange and Lupane.
Speaking at the Whange Agricultural Show last Saturday, she blamed illegal gold panners, poachers and newly settled people for causing veld fires as they carelessly clear land using fire.
The fire season starts in July and ends on October 31.
Mrs Zuze-Mpofu said they had increased awareness campaigns.
“We have witnessed a decrease in cases of fire incidents in the province during this period compared to last year but we are worried because some areas in Umguza and Bubi have lost vast pieces of land,” she said.
She said in Bubi 1 000 hectares had been burnt so far and in most cases the fire was started by illegal gold miners while 5 120 hectares were destroyed in Umguza due to newly resettled people who clear land.
Mrs Zuze-Mpofu said Hwange district lost 39 060 hectares last year but this year the figure was reduced to 70 in mid-August. A total of 6 224 hectares were burnt between July and mid-August and Mrs Zuze-Mpofu said the trend was disturbing as incidents could increase if no measures were taken.
“We have increased awareness campaigns and a portion of Hwange National Park has been burnt compared to a large portion of it last year.
“If we look at Matabeleland North, most areas are into tourism, safari and ranching which are all based on the environment and it is up to us to prevent fire,” she said.
Mrs Zuze-Mpofu warned that farmers risked losing their livestock and properties to fire and urged all stakeholders to work together.
“Farmers especially in Umguza and Bubi districts risk losing their livestock and we encourage them to protect their property from ravaging veld fires. Most areas are burning in Umguza, Bubi, Lupane and Hwange.
“Bubi last year was better but this year fire incidents are going up because of miners who clear land to use gold detectors while in Umguza there are people who recently settled at Enyokeni which had a clean sheet in the last three years.
“We are increasing awareness and urge owners of properties not to allow fire. In Lupane district more fire incidents have been recorded in Gwayi area because of poachers,” Mrs Zuze-Mpofu said.
Farmers in Gwayi are reportedly already moving their cattle to other places because pastures have been destroyed, although EMA was yet to compile statistics for the last few weeks.
Mrs Zuze-Mpofu said places such as Binga had over the years recorded minimal fire incidents and most of those experienced occur in Chizarira gorges which are not accessible while Tsholotsho and Nkayi have continuously kept a clean sheet with no notable fire incidents.
