By Fanuel Chinowaita
Mutare, May 29, 2025 – The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Manicaland, Hon. Advocate Misheck Mugadza, officially launched the 2025 Veld Fire Awareness Campaign in Mutare on Wednesday, amid rising concerns over veld fire incidents across the province.
Speaking at the press conference, Mugadza said veld fires had become one of the most pressing environmental threats in Manicaland, destroying over 74,000 hectares of land in 2024—a 251% increase from the previous year.
“Nyanga District was the hardest hit, with 42,980 hectares lost, most notably within the National Park,” Mugadza said.
Nationally, 4,554 veld fire incidents were recorded last year, destroying nearly one million hectares and causing damages valued at more than USD $7.2 million. Three fire-related deaths were reported, two of them in Manicaland’s Makoni and Chipinge districts.
Running under the theme “Prevent Veld Fires, Protect Our Environment,” this year’s campaign aligns with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the Environmental Management Act, focusing on disaster preparedness, climate resilience, and sustainable ecosystem management.
Mugadza said efforts were underway to improve community education, enforce fire safety regulations, and promote reforestation and afforestation across the province. He urged traditional leaders, local authorities, and institutions to dedicate land for woodlots and tree planting, while highlighting beekeeping initiatives in areas like Vumba and Chimanimani as innovative deterrents against veld fires.
The government has designated the second week of May as Veld Fire Awareness Week. Although the official fire restriction period runs from July 31 to October 31, Mugadza warned that shifting climate patterns had extended the fire season, prompting annual revisions to the restriction calendar.
With Zimbabwe set to host the COP15 Ramsar Wetlands Conference in July and the Sanganayi-Hlanganani-Kumbanayi Tourism Expo in September, Mugadza said the nation must remain vigilant.
“It is our shared responsibility to ensure a veld fire-free environment as we welcome the international community,” he said.
He called on all stakeholders government, private sector, civil society, and communities to work together to protect lives, livelihoods, and Zimbabwe’s natural heritage.