PREVENT VELD FIRES, PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT & LIVELIHOODS

The 2024 National Fire Awareness Week was driven by the theme, "Prevent Veld Fires - Protect the Environment and Livelihoods". 

According to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), 47 fire incidents were recorded since July 2024, destroying 43 843.11 hactares, a slight decrease as compared to the same period last year.....

....

I used to enjoy my journey from Harare to Mutoko RD Centre, and the remaining 58KM to home was totally opposite. 14 August 2024, I had to capture and record a different story:...

It was just from the Shamva turn, along Mutoko- Nyamapanda Highway, all the way to about 400m after Tollgate. To my right side, the blaze was still devouring their nesting place, our Common Home, 2/3 hills were not spared also. 

The person sitting next to me asked if l was a journalist, and a few couldn't understand. For me, it was'nt a one day fire incident and my neighbor told me how it was when he passed a couple of days ago. And a few petrol cars had to wait. The only feature separating the fire into two was the tarred road. 

"Ndonguva yacho" (that's the fire season), and yes, he was right because July 1st to October 30 is normally called the Fire Season in Zimbabwe. Personally l'm convinced this language has to change. 99.9% fire incidents in Zimbabwe are caused by someone.....🤔

This area is wholly dominated by small hills, commercial farming and a few spatially clustered settlements....you can clearly see that fire is also used to clear the land and mantaining main roads....

A couple of years ago, around this time, l also published a blog about a similar weeklong fire incident that l witnessed along Harare-Chinhoyi highway, especially at the Great Dyke.........

Our Common Home is already suffering from El nino and Pollution. Veld fires again...??????

#Lets Hope and Act with Creation #SeasonOfCreation2024

#BePartOfThePlan

#Lets say no to veld fires

Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA) 

Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa - ZW 

SAFCEI