By Takawira Photoveteran Dapi
Environmental Management Authority of Zimbabwe is engaging police to enforce laws against veld fires, littering and land degradation.
Officially, the national veld fire season starts from 31 July to 30 November as declared by the Minister Environment, Climate and Wild Life.
National Environmental and Veld Fire Education and Publicity manager, Amkela Sidange said: “’In dealing with perpetrators of both veld fires and litter bugs, considering that the fines are non-deterrent, vis-a-vis the environmental damage caused by members of the public.
“Little cooperation from other law enforcement agencies regarding the prosecution of litter bugs, because environmental crimes are of less priority.
“EMA is engaging communities to help avert veld fires, land degradation, and the growing littering problem. We are using various platforms to raise awareness, that are including community meetings, radio programs, various newspaper articles, roadshows, exhibitions, and social media, among others, where we will be sharing information on various thematic areas that are including veld fire management, land degradation and waste management,” Sidange said.
The National Fire Week was launched in May 2024 in the farming community of Shamva, in an effort to engage farmers and the community at large on veld fire management.
Giant Petroleum’s Hazvineyi Mutasa, aka Boss Giant called on other corporates to support EMA initiatives.
“Giant Petroleum is reminding all corporates and individuals to always consult and donate to EMA on how best to partner with them in eradicating veld fires, waste management and land degradations.
“Veld fires eradicate wildlife, ecosystem disasters hence economic frustrations for generations. We must not dispose of toxins before asking EMA.
Musicians Tryson Chimbetu said: “Stop veld fires to protect vegetation, clean air, wildlife, soil or land terrain conservation, our music is palatable whilst surrounded by this God’s nature.
“All artists must compose at list one song that reminds this world about the importance managing our environments, look at the climatic change, no more traditional yearly heavy rains because we are inevitably worsening our environmental day and night globally.”
Giant Petroleum brand official, Mr Hazvinei ‘Bossgiant’ Mutasa with one of the artists who were helped by Giant Petroleum brand, Seke Vibes
Gospel music pioneer legend, Baba Machanic Manyeruke added his voice calling for environmental awareness.
“Livestock later feeds on yesteryears’ dry vegetation during continuous draughts, especially this year’s El Nino induced drought.
“I am now living in the rural areas going round educating these communal villages of all ages on effects on veld fires and ignorance to the government’ s environmental management advocacies.
“We educate them that today there are fatal global environmental changes which are resulting in no rain falls for many consecutive years, so if we burn our vegetation, our livestock will die because they feed on grass which would’ve been burnt by veld fires.
“Again, we must wait for naturally dried trees for firewood, our air becomes dirty if we burn green leaves,” said Manyeruke.
Mashonaland East Provincial EMA manager, Astas Mbwewe, said they identified and intensified campaigns in all hot spots districts, which are, Chikomba District as number one, Hwedza District number three, Marondera number four and Goromonzi.
“Nine-meter-wide fireguards around all their plots education is running in Mashonaland East.
“Farmers must have firefighting equipment before the onset of the fire season, we are also reminding the public to avoid starting fires as any fire is crazy, it can be unexpectedly blown away by the wind and cause fatalities.
“It is a crime to refuse to come and join in putting out any fire anywhere in Zimbabwe, so be reminded to participate in putting out any fire.
“Veld fires are fatal to livelihood, so lets us prevent before we fight the forever by being slaves to the rules and regulations of eradicating veld fires,” said Mbewe.
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