Africa-Press – Botswana. The Department of Forestry and Range Resources has raised concern over the increasing cases of wildfires in Kgalagadi North, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to both livelihoods and the national economy.
Speaking at a three-day fire management and handling workshop, organised by Mabapi Training Institute in collaboration with Botswana Tribal Administration Service Association (BOTASA) which was held in Zutshwa recently, Forestry Superintendent Mr Obonye Matsiara stressed the importance of educating communities on fire prevention. He stressed that wildfires not only destroyed property and farmland but also had effects on the environment.
“Uncontrolled fires damage the earth’s surface and, if they persist, they will negatively impact tourism, which is one of Botswana’s key revenue drivers,” he said.
He noted that tourism relied heavily on wildlife, adding that when animals flee burnt areas, it weakens the tourism economy in those regions. Mr Matsiara further cautioned that farmers were also among the hardest hit, as wildfires burn fields, grazing land, and equipment, causing major setbacks to agricultural production.
This, he said, undermined the national target to increase Botswana’s cattle herd from two million to five million, a target which had been set by President Advocate Duma Boko. He also expressed disappointment that perpetrators of wildfires often go unidentified, pleading with communities to assist in reporting cases.
“Government alone cannot manage this problem. There is a strong need for public education and sensitisation so that together we can prevent these fires,” he said.
Mr Matsiara commended the Zutshwa community for their cooperation in extinguishing fires in the past and urged them to remain vigilant. He advised that when communities need to clear land through burning, citing an example of control plant diseases, that they should request assistance from the department instead of starting uncontrolled fires.
“The department is always available to guide and provide alternatives. Fire should never be the first option,” he said.
Mabapi Training Institute Director, Mr Maitumelo Mafhoko, who facilitated the programme, said the prevalence of wildfires in Zutshwa made it essential for the community to be trained on fire management. He stressed that the workshop, which enrolled more than 40 participants, was designed to equip locals with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent and respond to wildfires.
Mr Mafhoko highlighted the importance of sensitising the community to the dangers that wildfires pose to both farming and wildlife. He further appealed to local stakeholders to assist by providing firefighting equipment, which would empower participants to put their training into practice and extend awareness campaigns to the rest of the community.
Mr Ezhekhiel Phologolo of BOTASA said he partnered with Mabapi Training Institute as part of his social responsibility, having recognised the serious challenge that wildfires pose to the village. He expressed gratitude to the Zutshwa Salt Mine for their generous support of the initiative and said he was hopeful that the participants would continue to raise awareness in the community while also playing an active role in managing wildfires in and around the village.
Meanwhile, cases of wildfire outbreaks were reported in Zutshwa and Monong over the past weekend. According to the Hukuntsi District Commissioner, Ms Veronica Rabakane, response teams were deployed to the affected villages and successfully managed to suppress the fires. At the time of going to press, she reported that teams were still tackling a fire between Hukuntsi and Monong.
Source: DAILYNEWS
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