Thandeka Moyo, Chronicle Reporter 

THE Environmental Management Agency recorded a 64 percent increase in the amount of land destroyed by veld fires in Matabeleland North province with Lupane being the most affected district. 

According to the agency, most causes of the veld fires remain human activities like poaching and the deliberate and careless dumping of lit cigarette stumps. 

EMA environmental education and publicity officer Ms Mildred Matunga told Chronicle that Wards 9, 22, 26 and 24 were the most affected wards in Lupane. 

 “The fire season runs from July 31 to October 31 but due to climate change, the period can stretch to the start of the rains. During this period we have a risk of fires due to prevailing dry conditions and these are biomass which is the heat and the wind which make the fires spread faster,” said Ms Matunga. 

She said since the onset of the fire season 76 802 hectares were detroyed by veld fires in Matabeleland North  compared to 46 783ha during the same period last year. 

Lupane is the worst affected followed by Hwange and Binga. “Most of the fires are a result of human activities including hunting activities by poachers who start fires to expose game or to destroy evidence,” she said. — @thamamoe