By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – A total of 59 active fires were detected across different parts of the country, according to the latest fire alert bulletin released by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA), based on satellite data received from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The EMA bulletin, released on Monday, identifies Mhondoro-Ngezi in Mashonaland West and Insiza in Matabeleland South as the areas with the highest number of detected fires, accounting for 35 of the 59 recorded incidents.
Mhondoro-Ngezi Ward 18 recorded the highest number of active fires at 18, followed closely by Insiza Ward 17, which had 17.
Other affected areas include Hurungwe Ward 7 and Mutare Ward 7, which each recorded seven active fires, while Gutu Ward 6 had six. Binga Ward 4 recorded the lowest number, with four active fires.
The distribution highlights the geographical spread of fire activity across the country, with detections recorded in both the northern and southern parts of Zimbabwe.
The concentration of fires in Mhondoro-Ngezi and Insiza is particularly notable, as the two wards alone account for approximately 59 percent of all detections captured in the bulletin.
The satellite-generated maps provide a geographical breakdown of the affected wards, allowing environmental authorities and other stakeholders to identify areas requiring attention and strengthen fire monitoring and prevention interventions.
The use of NASA satellite data in tracking active fires provides an important early-warning mechanism, enabling the identification of potential fire hotspots and supporting efforts to respond to fire threats before they escalate.
Veld fires pose significant environmental and economic risks, including the destruction of vegetation, loss of biodiversity, damage to infrastructure and property, and threats to human and animal life.
Members of the public are encouraged to remain vigilant and report fire outbreaks to the relevant authorities to support timely intervention and minimize environmental damage.
New Ziana
