April 30, 2021

Zimbabwe at 90 percent risk of veld fires in 2021

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Munashe Mukahlera

Nearly 90 percent of Zimbabwe is at high risk of experiencing veld fires this year.

According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) about 89 percent of the country is lying in the high to extreme high risk of veld fires compared to 34 percent last year.

Zimbabwe’s fire season starts in July, stretching up to October.

EMA attributed the increased risk of fires to the above normal rains recorded in the 2020/2021 rainy season which saw a significant increase in biomass across the country.

EMA spokesperson Amkela Sidange, said: “We need to put in place measures to prevent veld fires so that we protect the biomass.”

Zimbabwe has set a target of a 25 percent reduction in land lost to veld fires this year.