Each year, Zimbabwe loses approximately a million hectares of forest and grassland to veld fires, and the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is trying to combat this problem in various communities.
According to EMA, the fire season starts from July to October and fires are prevalent during this time because of the dry weather conditions. During this period, no one is allowed to start fires outside their houses.
To combat veld fires, EMA has been working with communities in fire prevention projects such as fireguard construction, hay bailing and training firefighting teams.
Here are some facts on veld fires in Zimbabwe.
What are the causes of veld fires?
According to the EMA, many veld fires are caused by human activities which include land clearing, hunting, among others. Documented veld fire causes, as recorded by EMA, include reckless disposal of cigarette stubs, lighting fires by roadsides while waiting for early morning buses, deliberate lighting of fires, children playing with matches and improper household ash disposal.
What does the law say on veld fires?
Statutory Instrument 7 of 2007 Environmental Management (Environmental Impact Assessment and Ecosystems Protection) Regulations states that no person must start a fire deliberately during the fire season. In case of a fire outbreak, any person within that vicinity of the fire must extinguish the fire even if they are not the owner of the land or property.
| Year | Fire Incidences | Hectarage | Deaths Recorded |
| 2010 | 9 361 | 1 152 413 | 25 |
| 2011 | 6 780 | 713 770 | 5 |
| 2012 | 1861 | 1 320 325 | 16 |
| 2013 | 1981 | 1 179 274 | 4 |
| 2014 | 2575 | 1 653 822 | 12 |
| 2015 | 2464 | 1 510 342 | 16 |
| 2016 | 1652 | 1 197 336 | 7 |
| 2017 | 2705 | 1 268 534 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1595 | 1 190 174.89 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1508 | 1 158 291.57 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1178 | 806 457.84 | 4 |
Source: Environmental Management Agency.
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