The Sunday News
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent
PROPERTY worth more than $5,2 million was destroyed nationwide by veld fires and four fire- related deaths were recorded during the 2019 fire season which stretched from 31 July to 31 October, the Environmental Management Agency (Ema) has revealed.
In a statement, the organisation’s Environmental Education and Publicity manager, Ms Amkela Sidanke said a total of 1 158 291.57 hectares was burnt by veld fires from 1 508 incidences by 31 October 2019, while in 2018 during the same period, a total of 1 190 174.89 hectares was burnt from 1 595 fire incidences.
She said that translated to a 2,6 percent decrease in area burnt and 5,4 percent decrease in fire incidences in the 2019 fire season. Ms Sidanke said a total of 70 198.97 hectares was burnt outside the fire season which was before 31 July and after 31 October in 2019.
“Veld fires are slowing the economic growth of the country by destroying the vital economic enablers and if not checked they will compromise the vision of attaining a middle-class economy by 2030. Veld fires burnt property worth over $5 269 655,00 comprising household goods and agricultural equipment during the 2019 fire season. A total of four fire-related deaths were recorded during the year.
“A total of 1 158 291.57 hectares was burnt by veld fires from 1 508 incidences by the 31st of October 2019, while in 2018 during the same period, a total of 1 595 fire incidences were recorded which burnt 1 190 174.89 hectares. This translates to 2,68 percent decrease in area burnt and 5,45 percent decrease in fire incidences in the 2019 fire season. In addition a total of 70 198.97 hectares was burnt outside the fire season (before 31 July and after 31 October),” she said.
Ms Sidanke said most fires were recorded in Mashonaland West which recorded 400 000 hectares followed by Matabeleland North with 300 000, Mashonaland Central with 200 000 and Mashonaland East with 170 000 hectares. She said the land use analyses revealed that most of the fires affected the resettlement areas (A1 &A2), safari areas, communal areas and gazetted forests.
She said Ema has conducted a fire risk prediction for the year 2020 from available vegetation and burnt area for 2019 using the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). She said predictions showed that the country is generally at medium 43,3 percent to high risk 23,1 percent to veld fires in 2020. Ms Sidanke said 11,2 percent of the country has been classified as being in extreme risk to fires. She said the provinces highly exposed to the veld fires are Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, parts of Matabeleland North and Masvingo.
“The fire risks identified therefore leave us with no option but calls for concerted effort by all concerned citizens of Zimbabwe to ensure we don’t lose any prime land to veld fires this fire season. The agency remains available to work with all citizens in the fight against veld fires.
Let’s all prevent veld fires and sustain biodiversity. NDVI is a simple graphical indicator used to analyse remote sensing measurements assessing whether or not the target being observed contains live green vegetation. The NDVI was used because it is simple and quickly identifies vegetated areas and their condition,” she said. – @DubeMatutu
