Alex Samanyanga
Following the good rains which the country received in the past rain season Government is enhancing prevention measures to reduce uncontrolled veld fires this coming winter.
There is a correlation between good rains and frequent fires.
Speaking during a post press briefing yesterday Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Monica Mutsvangwa said the country has a high fire risk rating this winter.
“The nation is informed that uncontrolled veldt fires remain the most threatening factor on Zimbabwe’s forests, pastures, crop lands, property, and infrastructure and food security.
This year, the country is generally in the high-risk category of 65.2 percent to the extreme risk of category 24.7 percent of veld fires outbreaks countrywide. This is as a result of the good rainfall in the 2020/2021 season. The Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Manicaland Provinces are at extreme risk, while Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands and Masvingo provinces are at high risk of the veldt fires,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the Government will conduct fire awareness starting from farm levels and include all local authorities to come up with plans for veld fire management.
She said 89.9 percent of the country is in high to extreme high fire risk.
Veld fires are a single significant threat to the national economic recovery plans, as they are destroying not only pastures, they are also destroying vast plantations.
In 2013, Zimbabwe reported 1981 fire incidences with four fatalities thereby destroying over 1.1million hectares of land.
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