Boitumelo Makhurane, Chronicle Reporter
THE Environmental Management Agency (Ema) has warned that 89 percent of the country is at high to extreme risk of veld fires, compared to 34 percent last year.

The agency says that areas that are traditionally not prone to veld fires are at risk this year due to increased biomass as a result of the good rains received this season.

In a statement, Environmental Education and Publicity manager Mrs Amkela Sidange said the agency has embarked on extensive education and awareness programmes to sensitise communities on veld fire management in an effort to prevent wildfires and protect lives, property and the environment as well as the bumper harvest the country is looking forward to.

“Teams made up of Ema officers are on the ground working with relevant stakeholders in sensitising communities on veld fire management. The programme is targeting both farm and village level so as to reach out to all land owners and users.

“Some of the areas that have been accessed since the beginning of the programme include Binga and Hwange in Matabeleland North, Chikomba in Mashonaland East, Makonde, Zvimba and Chegutu in Mashonaland West, Makoni and Nyanga as well as over 1 000 farmers accessed at tobacco auction floors in Manicaland.

“The programme will be spreading all over the country in the coming weeks leading to the national fire week launch, set aside for the second week of May, and thereafter up to the onset of the fire season on the 31st of July,” she said.

She said the thrust of the programme is to build capacity among farmers, landowners and users on fire management strategies such as fireguard construction, biomass reduction through hay baling and thatch grass harvesting as well as training and equipping of fire committees.

“During the same programme, farmers, landowners and users are being served with environmental protection orders, to remind and compel them to construct fire guards around their properties before the onset of the fire season.

“The clarion call to all farmers, land owners and users is to take the advice given by technocrats and leaders, use it effectively towards putting in place all measures relevant in preventing veld fires, so that crops, pastures for livestock, property and lives are protected,” she said.

Ema Matabeleland North provincial manager Mrs Chipo Mpofu-Zuze said the province was having awareness campaigns on the need to reduce biomass through harvesting grass for thatching and hay.

“There are teams who are implementing an intensive fire programme. Last week they were in Binga, now they are in Hwange. The major components are awareness on the need to reduce biomass through harvesting grass for thatching and hay. There is also issuing of fire orders which remind property owners/users that we are fast approaching the fire season and compel them to construct fire measures in the form of fire guards,” she said.

She said Matabeleland and Masvingo are at high risk of veld fires and said there was need for a broad-based and inclusive collaborative approach to reduce fire incidents. — @Boity104