ENVIRONEMENTALISTS have urged communities to guard against veld fires amid reports that vegetation destroyed by veld fires increased by more than 500 000 hectares between 2013 and 2014.
BY IVAN NDLOVU
Addressing stakeholders at the launch of the Midlands Provincial Fire Week in Gokwe last Friday, Zanu PF deputy secretary for environment and tourism Auxillia Mnangagwa in a speech read on her behalf by Mberengwa East MP Makhosini Hlongwane, urged communities to be on high alert this season and curb the spread of veld fires.
“In 2014, there was an increase in the area burnt nationwide through veld fires from 1 179 274 hectares in 2013 to nearly 1 700 000,” she said.
Mnangagwa, who is Chirumhanzu-Zibagwe MP, said besides destroying the country’s flora and fauna, veld fires claimed 12 lives last year.
Meanwhile, Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya said thousands of hectares of land had been degraded through illegal mining activities without necessary rehabilitation.
“Chrome mining has left a trail of destruction in the (Midlands) province. About 12 000 hectares of land has been affected by mining companies and illegal miners,” said Machaya.
He added that over 5000 people were engaged in illegal mining and more than 500 kilometres of river banks have been affected by riverbank cultivation.
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The fire week campaign is a joint initiative involving the Environment Management Agency and Zimbabwe National Parks and Wlidlife Management Authority to educate communities about the negative effects of veld fires.
Environment, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere last week told Parliament that veld fires destroyed 1 661 754 hectares of vegetation last year with several farmers charged for failing to construct fireguards at their properties.
