Correspondent|Resettled farmers are fueling rampant veld fires destroying large tracts of land, livestock and properties within Mashonaland Central province.

Environmental Management Agency (EMA) provincial manager Robert Rwafa said “unwarranted veld fires” impact negatively on forests and are caused by land clearing, bee smoking, and mice hunting.

Mashonaland Central covers Mvurwi, Bindura, Guruve, Mbire, Rushinga and Muzarabani including surrounding communal and resettlement farms.

A recent tour by Mail and Telegraph in one of the productive districts recently revealed that large tracts of forests have been destroyed through uncontrolled veld fires.

Rwafa confirmed that they are witnessing veld fires in the province.

“We recorded 40 fire incidences where livestock and properties were lost. At Sandazi and Pednor farms, two hectares of gum plantation was destroyed. A grass thatched hut where valuable properties including clothes, pots, four phones, three fertilizer bags, blankets, five pairs of shoes were destroyed,” he said in written responses.

He confirmed that a sheep shed valued at $25 000 from Brok Park farm Panhowe in Bindura was destroyed recently.

“We recorded destruction of 14 hectares of banana plantation at Pasango (Melton) farm in Shamva. Also 48 hens that were 3 weeks old were destroyed at Wengi/ Meadows farm,” explained Rwafa.

Challenges

Rwafa, however, blamed farmers for not reporting uncontrolled fires destroying forests thereby affecting ecosystem with the lowveld basin.

“Many farmers do not construct fire guards to control fires. Some farmers use fires to clear land but do not curb veld fires,” he said.

Government’s land reform embarked in the year 2000 to empower indigenous farmers in one of the prime productive provinces has backfired as large tracts of unutilised land are fuelling veld fires here.

A teacher at Mushumbi primary school who declined to be named said many A2 farmers do not have firefighting teams.

“Generally, lack of teamwork by farmers renders fire responses by EMA and other stakeholders efforts weak to curb veld fires around farms,” said the teacher.

However, Rwafa said although traditional leaders play a pivotal role in assisting minimal veld fires, they have no jurisdiction in fast track resettlement areas.

“Enforcement of Traditional Leaders Act is limited in resettlement farms compared to communal areas. Community response to uncontrolled fire outbreaks is generally poor,” said Rwafa.

He explained that locals do not ‘cooperate’ in divulging information to identify culprits.

“It is hard to get information of suspects so that we can bring them to book,” he added.

Rwafa said there is need for enforcement of the Traditional Leaders Act to resettlement farms so that they can prosecute fire offenders.

He appealed for community education and awareness to reduce veld fires around the province.

“We can curb veld fires through everyone commitment,” Rwafa said.

M&T