Veld fire season: The country is literally burning

September 18, 2015 in National, News

It is just after 6pm and it’s already dark and part of the horizon is imbued in an orange hue, mimicking the setting of the sun. Until one sees the smoke in the horizon, then they are brought to the awakening truth that the veld fire season is upon us.

BY JACKIE MBAYIWA-MAKUVATSINE

Travelling along the R2 highway towards Harare, just before Kadoma, the grass is engulfed by flames and one wonders what sense the campaigns that are taking place during the season are making.

Just outside Chegutu, the same colour on the horizon is seen from afar, the fire is so close to the road that vehicles risk being engulfed by the flames. Thanks to Manyame River, it saves the flora and fauna from the fire. It is this river that acts as a fireguard to the environment on this Thursday evening.

Sparks from lit trees can be seen for over a 2km stretch like decorated Christmas trees. Dry tree leaves are licked up by the raging fire into nothingness.

That is the reality of veld fires in Zimbabwe. The country is burning. Every year, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) launches the veld fire season campaign, from the end of July to end of October, bringing awareness to the population about the dangers of veld fires, but it seems all that falls on deaf ears.

Environment, Water and Climate permanent secretary Prince Mupazviriho said the veld fire situation is so bad that it is one of the major challenges being faced by the country. Veld fires are a major cause of degradation and erosion.

“An average of one million hectares of land is burnt each year and a total of 72 lives have been lost over the past five years due to veld fires. Prevention of the fires is better than putting out the fires, so there is even need for the Ministry of Education to include the veld fire topic in their curricula,” said Mupazviriho.

EMA director-general Mutsa Chasi said 90% of fires in Zimbabwe are anthropogenic (originating from human activity) and 10% natural.

“In 2001, it was half a million hectares of land that were burnt, but today the trend is rising at a speedy pace. In 2014, more than 1600 000 hectares were burnt. Mashonaland West tops whilst Manicaland has the least veld fire cases. The timber industry is going extinct, if the trend continues at this rate. In 2010, eight elephants where burnt and 30% of the country is at high risk of these fires,” said Chasi.

Destroyed infrastructure so far is valued at an estimated $1 695 772.

The Forestry Act Chapter 19:0 provides for fireguard construction, notification before burning, and penalties for not putting out veld fires.

Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007: Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) provides for communities not to leave fires unattended, defines the fire season, no starting of fires outside residential or commercial premises during the fire season, adequate veld fire suppression measures and for communities to investigate and report fire incidents to EMA and the police.

The country is currently in the 2015 fire season that starts on July 31 and ends on October 31 each year. To date, several veld fire incidents have been recorded and several hectares have already been burnt, destroying pastures, forestry resources and plantations.

Former large-scale farming communities had the highest number of fires last year as 800 000 hectares were burnt, followed by commercial land and, lastly, forest land had less than 100 000 hectares burnt.

“We are facing challenges in trying to curb the starting of fires in the country as there is trivialisation of environmental issues; environmental offenders normally get suspended sentences. Farmers are failing to construct fireguards, court cases are taking long to be finalised and sentences for those convicted of starting fires are not deterrent,” said Chasi.

She also said lack of community co-operation in identifying culprits who would have started fires is another challenge as well as changing community perceptions.

According to a 2013 study by Bindura University’s Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Science, until now no studies have investigated the causes, and socio-economic and environmental impacts of veld fires in Zimbabwe.

“Yet, such information is crucial for planning and implementation of fire prevention and control practices. This review showed that the main causes of veld fires are anthropogenic. The impacts of fires are multi-faceted and are a threat to the bio-physical, social and economic environment because of their trail of destruction and they directly impact all sectors of the economy.”

Impacts of veld fires range from loss of livelihoods and income, psychosocial impact associated with fatalities and family bereavement, loss of biodiversity and disturbance of the hydrological balance.

“It is very difficult, if not impossible, to prevent veld fires because, besides the negative impacts of veld fires, fire also plays a positive role in many Zimbabwean ecosystems. In view of this, fire management should move away from fire-fighting to management practices such as early burning that reduces the negative impact, and enhance the positive effects of veld fires,” reads part of the study.

The Sadc regional fire management programme document of 2010 states that in the last two decades, vegetation fires have become a major concern in the region with regard to the negative impact they have on the environment and human welfare.

“Fire management is a technical, socio-cultural and political challenge that requires an effective network of willing partners that include governments, the private sector, local communities and international partners to find the appropriate balance between developing and conserving natural resources and managing unwanted fires while at the same time promoting the safe use of beneficial fires,” reads part of the document.

In Zimbabwe, besides EMA forking out of thousands of dollars in trying to raise awareness on the dangers of veld fires, cases are on the rise each year.