Veld Fires 2

9/22/2014 Veld fires
http://www.ema.co.zw/index.php/ema-newspaper-articles/116-veld-fires 1/5
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Veld fires
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ARE VELD FIRES A THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT
What are veld fires?
These are blazes that get out of control and become wild, and in the process destroy
extensive tracts of forests, grasslands, animals, people and their properties.Fire, as part of
natural process has a positive role in the vegetation structure and composition, and helps
recycle nutrients contained in old and dead trees. There is, however, concern that the
frequency, extent and pattern of burning are increasing due to human activities.
It is a fact that the damage from these fires has grown to outweigh the benefits of fire on the
ecosystem. Frequent burning has implication on carbon stocks and emissions, wildlife habitat,
human health and life as well as livelihoods.
S.I. 7 of 2007 as read with Environmental Management Act (CAP 20:27), no person is
allowed to light a fire outside residential and commercial premises during the period 31 July to
31 October of each year.
The causes of veld fires
There are several factors that cause veld fires but most are human ignitions resulting from:
Reckless disposal of lit cigarette stubs.
Smoking out of bees for honey harvesting
Lighting fires at road servitudes whist waiting for early morning buses
Land clearing
Hunting
Deliberate lighting of fires / arson
Children playing with matches
Improper household ash disposal

Effects of veld fires

Veld fires lead to severe environmental degradation. More specifically, veld fires reduce land
cover thus exposing the land to agents of accelerated soil erosion, changes in the hydrological
cycle, increase in overland flow or surface run off and modifications in various ecological
processes. Soil erosion leads to the siltation of rivers and dams, thus reducing their water
carrying capacity. This is likely to induce floods in low-lying areas.
Veld fires destroy plantations, crops and pastures. In Zimbabwe, it is now commonly agreed
that veld fires are a single significant threat to national economic recovery plans as they are
destroying not only pastures necessary for the restocking exercise, but they are also
destroying foreign currency generation plantations. Food security may be compromised as the
last few years have seen fires burning wheat farms, maize fields among other valuables.

How do l know that a fire might occur?
It is normally your dry season.
You experience very hot conditions.
There is a lot of potential fuel (e.g. dry leaves, wood, dead plants and grass).
You can clearly see long dry grass and plants.
There are moderate to strong winds present.
Veld fire trends
YEAR HECTARAGE FATALITY FIRE INCIDENCES
2009 950 905 10 7 409
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2010 1 152 413 25 9 361
2011 713 770 5 6 780
2012 1 320 325 16 1861
Please help us lower fire statistics for 2012.
Veld fires and stakeholders
Each person or institution has a role to play in the fight against veld fires and the following can
be of importance to prevent veld fires, destruction of the environment as well as loss of life
and property.
a. School Children
In the event that school children come across fire:
Quickly report the incident to any nearby adult person.
Do not attempt to cross over fire, crossing over fire may result in fatalities.
Do not try to extinguish a veldt fire on your own
move away from the veldt fireand never ever try to climb trees in the direction of a veldt fire

b. Bus passengers
Travelling can at times be done during the odd hours when the weather is very cold especially
in the rural areas. These conditions make passengers make a fire at the bus stop for warmth.
Therefore, before leaving:
Make sure you completely extinguish the fire before leaving
Make sure all the glowing splints and burning coal are completely extinguished using water.
Put on warm clothes because history has shown that most road fires are left unattended.

c. Bee smokers
Use other methods of extracting honey which does not involve use of fire
Seekadvice from Forestry Commission.

d. Motorists
Put off cigarette stubs and use ashtrays.
Assist in fire fighting and always travel with a fire extinguisher.
Service car electrical and mechanical systems to avoid sparks which can cause veld fires

e.Traditional leaders
Have fire fighting teams to put off uncontrolled veldt fires in your areas of jurisdiction.
Carry out fire awareness campaigns throughout the fire season
Use cultural ways of punishing those who causeveld fires.

f. Rural District Councils
Establish an environmental committee to oversee environmental issues
Establish environmental sub committees which are chaired by a councillor in a given ward
or wards.
appoint an environmental monitor in the district in conjunction with EMA
Ensure that there are fire fighting committees in these various wards
Report all veld fire incidences within 7 working days to EMA or ZRP.

What Farmers/Property owners need to know?
Fire prevention is the best option to minimise risks associated with veld fires. This can be
achieved through establishment and maintenance of fireguards. Fireguards are designed to
provide access and a safe environment for the fire fighting teams to implement controlled
burning and effectively manage wildfires. The existing roads and tracks also provide the
foundation to implement fire management activities.
Construct standard fireguards which are at least 9m wide on boundaries and internal fire
guards which should be at least 4.5m wide.
Fireguards can be constructed by ploughing using ox-drawn ploughs or tractors, disking,
hoeing.
Always inspect your fireguards to make sure that they are free of any material that burns.
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Administration 42p +1
Fireguards are important because they break fire by removing the fuel load from the fire
triangle.
Ensure that fire fighting equipment is in place, bowzers/knapsack sprayers filled with water
during the fire season.
Report all fire incidences to the nearest ZRP or EMA offices within 7 working days.
Always listen to the weather personnel on the fire danger index.
If only the above stakeholders could take heed of the above advice, EMA hopes and trusts
that there will be reduction inthe occurrences of veld fires in the country.Reduction of veld fire
management is therefore, everyonesresponsibility, so play your part.
Quote of the week: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world- Mahatma
Gandhi
Please talk to us we are always ready to listen. email: eep@ema.co.zw 04
305543/Tollfree 08080028

Comments (43)
Sort by: Date Rating Last Activity
123 weeks ago
Noted, this will be corrected as soon as possible.
Thank you.
116 weeks ago
Ndoitasei ndikaona munhu achirasa marara kana kupisa masango.pamwe pacho maoffices
enyu kana emapurisa anenge ari kure munhu wacho ndigona kuwana aenda
1 reply active 1 week ago
116 weeks ago
Mungandipawo necell nmbr dzemunhu wandikwanisa ku4nera mushure mekuona zviitiko
zvose.
1 reply active 106 weeks ago
113 weeks ago
Ema you are doing a good job. Please lets look at the rate at which children are born,
meaning more pampers bought, but this not a problem at all, but the disposal part is the one
that is worrxing me. In the town i stay, the are dumped everywhere. Please help in this
category. Scared.....
104 weeks ago
As a procurement professional I have worked for a number of heavy industries with a SHE
department, I have however noted with concern the rate of environmental degradation caused
by various industrial processes. The she departments in companies; are like EMA busy
monitoring the outcome and controlling the effects after. Can EMA do something and be
proactive such that we do not encounter such problems , is it about that you are not well
resourced or a toothless dog and whose responsibility is it to advocate for changes to the
EMA act to empower it to carry out its mandate. I believe in companies instead of trying to
control the processes to minimise effluent it is advisable to educate them about best
procurement practices that are favourable to sustainable development. Buying products and
raw materials that are green compliant.
90 weeks ago
molten metal(more than 5tonnes) is being transported from kelvin west(o. Conolly) to
belmont(nimr and chapman) in bulawayo @ night through residential area of tshabalala and
sizinda without police escot, surprizingly nimr and chapman is next to donnington police
station and they are doing nothing about it, this is a threat to the residents and motoring public
as they are not using proper vehicles to carry the molten metal, neither adquet measure are
being taken in case of a spil or mishap, please investgate this issue, workers cant report this
fearing victimization
64 weeks ago
The matter will be handed over to EMA Bulawayo offices located at Mhlahlandlela building for
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Administration 42p +1
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ecigboss +2
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Thandeka Dube +1
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further investigation and action.
63 weeks ago
Mr Nyati, what actually necessitated this Statutory Instrument was 'our' habit to use plastic
containers (zvigubhu) made of thin plastic usually 5 litres, 20litres which are not meant to ferry
such contents. Some even went to the extent of using 2litre used Mazoe bottles which are
definitely not ideal for storing fuel.
51 weeks ago
If you think that smoking only affects your lungs, you are wrong. Smoking affects a lot of
things including your taste buds and your brain, and this is why many people are advised to
quit. Some of the damage that you can cause your body is irreversible or it takes a longer
period of time to disappear. The complete detox process takes a long time but you can notice
the first positive effects on your body within the first 24 hours.
44 weeks ago
Those smokers who threw their cigs without being sure that it was snuff out completely should
be put to jail when seen.
1 reply active 3 days ago
32 weeks ago
can i get same infor on veld fires that occurred in the midlands during 2013
30 weeks ago
hie i would olso like to have the 2013 national fire report if possible please.
30 weeks ago
can i get info on veld fires and wetlands in chimanimani district as from 2009
22 weeks ago
can u pliz tel m wch is e best way to reduce veld fires btwn environmental prosecution n
environmental education n y it is e bst way
2 replies active 17 weeks ago
20 weeks ago
mati nonokei kuva serious nevanhu vanotema miti vachipisisa fodya masango ari kupera
14 weeks ago
What is the fire awareness campaign theme for 2014
14 weeks ago
how can environmental education reduce veld fires in zimbabwe?
14 weeks ago
eee33
14 weeks ago
Now that we are almost in the fire season, what is more effective in reducing fires,
environmental education or prosecution?
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14 weeks ago
we have fire fighting machines that can be used as quick as possible contact 447755. even in
the forestry companies they use them so much ask for nick
12 weeks ago
how do you help pple with issues with smoking and what do we get after debating .pliz make
sure that all schools get the debate motion cause other schools dont pass it to us and hey l
love the ema it has realy helped me very much
12 weeks ago
i believe prosecution is the best way to reduce veld fires....education intergrates one's mind
aND IT IS THROUGH choice that one decides not to burn velds therefore practical legal
proceedings towards people victimizing the velds is the only solution left bcoz teust me
people have been taught and are finding it hard to practicalize wat they learnt.EMA should get
the right to prosecute individuals who are doing this.......................
1 reply active 3 days ago
12 weeks ago
In a recent report to Parliament, Chiri said the Environmental Management Agency (EMA)
and the Forestry Commission had failed to stop people who started fires for hunting
purposes.Is this true,HAVE YOU FAILED?
1 week ago
For the last 25 years we have had veld fires on Gletwyn Farm (now Chawasha Hills?) the
latest being on 8 September 2014. This fire was exceptionally violent and burnt over the ridge
on the northern boundary, crossed my firebreaks, and burnt down towards the Enterprise
Road. The owners of the area have never made any attempt to clear a firebreak along the
fence line. I have now had enough of fire fighting and would like to know what legal action can
be taken.
1 reply active 1 week ago
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