Improving disaster risk reduction capacity of District Civil Protection Units in managing veld fires: A case of Mangwe District in Matabeleland South Province, Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article analysed disaster risk reduction capacity of District Civil Protection Units (DCPUs) in managing veld fires in Mangwe District of Matabeleland South Province, Zimbabwe. Veld fires have resulted in unnecessary material, environmental and economic losses. Communities’ livelihoods and property have been destroyed, and the natural environment depleted. The research sought to improve disaster risk reduction capacity of DCPUs in managing veld fires, through new intervention strategies and a new model. The objectives of the study were to investigate the main causes of veld fires; to analyse their impacts; to examine the effectiveness of the current intervention strategies; and to identify challenges in implementing these interventions. Furthermore, the study sought to recommend new possible intervention strategies. This mainly qualitative study employed self-administered questionnaires, interviews and focus-group discussions. Questionnaires were used to investigate members of the DCPU's ideas, views and experiences, interviews solicited perceptions of community leaders and their subjects, whilst focus-group discussions assisted with information from members of the District Civil Protection Planning Committee. Veld fires in the district are mainly caused by human activities, and they are prevalent during the months of September and October. They affect livelihoods and the natural environment the most. This study found that DCPUs are not prepared to manage veld fires and therefore recommended new strategies and adoption of the community-based disaster risk reduction model. The new strategies include involving community leaders and members of the communities in DCPUs; regular training and workshops to members of DCPUs on veld fire management; creation of fire protection associations; regular campaigns and rehearsal of emergency drills by the DCPU personnel; the introduction of competitions and incentives in veld fire management; vigorous public education on the erection of proper fireguards around homes, cattle pens, crop fields and vegetable gardens; and the imposition of stiffer penalties for carelessly or deliberately causing veld fires. Policy-makers, governments and stakeholders would benefit from the new intervention strategies. The community-based disaster risk reduction model would benefit researchers and disaster risk reduction practitioners.

Impact of Smoking in a Tobacco-Growing Developing Country: A Review

“…In 2009-2011, the country introduced a multicurrency system, and there was an increase in consumption. From 2011 to 2015, Figure 2 shows a decline in consumption that was influenced by an increase in excise tax on retail prices for all cigarette tobacco sales which led to reduced demand [10,11].…”

“…The farming land destroyed by veldt fires in Zimbabwe amounted to 950,905 hectares in 2009, 1,152,413 hectares in 2010, 713,770 hectares in 2011, and 1,320,325 hectares in 2012. In this regard, veldt fires pose a serious challenge to environmental sustainability [11,15]. Figure 5 shows that most veldt fires are caused by careless human activities such as improper disposal of cigarette stubs and burning of vegetation during land preparation (these two being the major causes).…”

“…Trees, species of wildlife, farming land, livestock, human lives, and livelihoods suffer under the severe threat posed by veldt fires [2,3]. The natural environment has suffered the destruction of fauna and flora, while the loss of property, pollution, and at times injury have been the order of the day in the human environment [11,12]. Veldt fires also result in the decline of veldt conditions and an increase in air pollution, thereby reducing the quality of air that people would use to breathe.…”

“…These fires emit millions of tons of gases and particulate matter into the air, which will have serious consequences on human health and carbon balances that contribute to global climate change [2,4]. If not controlled, veldt fires would give rise to unclean environment, severe environmental degradation, and diminished livelihoods [11,12]. This would result in severe destruction of the veldt, thereby adversely affecting flora and fauna.…”

Determination of Veld Fire Hazard Zones in Multiple Tenure Systems in Zimbabwe: Implications for Intervention

“…The study sought to detect fire hotspots from 2001, a year after the FTLRP was introduced, to 2013, in order to inform policy and fire management authorities, however, as also found in Bontebok park South Africa, the records were usually unreliable as they were missing or incomplete (30). It became necessary to use remote sensing imagery that could collect data beyond accessibility, tenure and record barriers to motivate strategies that avert subsequent hazard events [28,29].…”