NEW: One million hectares destroyed by fire

The Sunday Mail

Online Reporter

AT least one million hectares of forests and farmland have been ravaged by veld fires that claimed 16 lives over a three-month period, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has said.

Overall, 6 042 incidences of veld fires have so far been recorded, compared to 3 673 last year, which represents a 64,5 percent increase.

EMA environment education and publicity manager Ms Amkela Sidange said the average burnt area per incident has risen to the current 253,5 hectares from 234 hectares in 2021.

“Week-on-week, burnt area trends indicate that the 2022 fire restriction has kept a constant upward trend compared to the 2021 fire season.
“This is attributed to the dry and windy conditions that are prevailing in the country, and this has persisted for longer than is usual, a possible indication of shifts in seasons due to climatic change,” said Ms Sidange.

Starting a fire outside residential or business premises during the fire-restriction period is a punishable offence in Zimbabwe.