Faith Duri
As the fire season is currently ongoing, a number of veldfires have been reported in the province and the fires are posing a great threat to livestock which devour grazing lands.
These fires pose an immediate threat to the safety and wellbeing of animals as flames sweep through grazing lands trapping livestock leading to injuries and in worst case scenarios, loss of valuable livestock.
Speaking at a workshop on Government High Level Retreat on the backdrop of the formation of a new government to steer Zimbabwe held on September 20, 2023 at Great Zimbabwe University Law School Masvingo Provincial Veterinary Officer Kramer Manyetu said veld fires were causing loss of grazing lands which leads to shortage of available forage for livestock.
“The issue of veld fires is threatening our livestock especially these days as cases of veld fires are increasing in our province” said Manyetu
He went on to challenge traditional leaders to take a leading role in minimizing veld fires through enforcement as well as arranging reaction mechanism if fire broke out saying it was not the duty of the Environmental Management Agency.
“We cannot let the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) be the only organization in veld fire control. Traditional leadership should help us also and even if it means for civil protection committees to have fire brigade trucks to extinguish the fires as they often take two days spreading and people wait for EMA to take action.
“Animals are now suffering from shortage of pastures and if a fire starts in Chivi District instead of waiting for it to take two days spreading waiting for EMA, councils should also help to extinguish the fire before it spreads and destroys livestock,” said Manyetu.
EMA statistics from September 11, 2023 shows that the province had recorded one loss of life, 64 veld fire incidences, and a total of 21 388.36ha of land was burnt.
They also indicated that they have issued 32 tickets and three cases were pending in courts.
Masvingo provincial EMA spokesperson Munyaradzi Mtisi is urging people especially in rural areas to have fire guards so as to prevent these fires from spreading.
“The issue of veld fires is something that needs to be taken seriously, we are encouraging people especially from rural areas to have fire guards so as to prevent the fire from spreading,” said Mtisi
Recently there was a horrific fire that destroyed 500ha of land in Zaka which left a lot of people and animals stranded as the grazing lands for cattle were destroyed hence forcing them to walk long distances to other villages.
Veld fires pose a significant loss in Flora and Fauna, which results in bio diversity loss and can drive certain vulnerable species that are battling for existence in extinction.
