Don’t start veld fires, villagers warned

The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has warned villagers here against starting veld fires to avert rampant destruction of the environment in one of the districts perennially affected by rampaging wild fires.

EMA said there was need for villagers to be extra cautious now that the fire season was in full swing.

Speaking during a full council meeting in the Zaka Rural District Council boardroom last week, district environmental officer Mrs Rachel Matuvhunye urged villagers to be vigilant to stop veld fires.

Mrs Matuvhunye said while the total hectarage ravaged by veld fires continued to decline in Zaka over the past few years, a lot of work still needs to be done.

“We are calling upon members of the public, especially our farmers, to guard against veld fires.

“Let’s maintain the spirit of conservation which we showed last season when the damage caused by veld fires across the district was minimal compared to the previous year,’’ she  said.

“Whenever the environment is destroyed by veld fires caused mainly by human activities, the situation affects even livestock and wild animals, so we must do more to preserve our environment.’’

Mrs Matuvhunye said there was likely to be an upsurge of veld fires, hence the call for extra caution by villagers and increased awareness campaigns mainly in rural communities by the environmental management body.

In Zaka, veld fires are rife in resettlement areas in the northern parts of the district and EMA has plans to increase awareness campaigns against veld fires in such areas.

“We are encouraging our farmers, especially those in resettlement areas to create fire guards around their farms,” said Mrs Matuvhunye.

“They should also have well-trained fire fighters to quickly extinguish veld fires in the event of a break out.’’

Mrs Matuvhunye warned villagers against starting open fires for smoking out bees or for hunting purposes.

She encouraged those who smoke cigarettes to dispose of their stubs in bins and make sure they are completely extinguished.

The district environmental officer  said those who start veld fires will face the full wrath of the law.