Farmers appeal as fires torch thousands of hectares

The Omaruru Farmers' Association has issued a national appeal for fire prevention after veldfires in the Omaruru and Kalkfeld areas destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of grazing in recent weeks.

In a statement dated 30 September, the association's committee said the fires were caused by dry storms, negligence and regulatory violations in the charcoal industry. It said farmers were already under pressure from an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease and an expected drought.

"We have seen in recent weeks the amazing way commercial and emerging farmers, town residents, and communal areas can work together to fight fires. But we are wasting too much energy and money on preventable disasters," the statement said.

The association asked the public to stop people from lighting fires at roadsides or handling hot coal or machinery carelessly, and to report non-compliant charcoal burning to the authorities. It asked farmers to train staff in fire safety, clear farm roads, keep water on hand and equip workers with firebeaters.

NASA satellite hotspot maps attached to the statement show fire detections around Omaruru in August and again in September.

In September the directorate of forestry fined a charcoal producer in the district N$8 000 after finding no firebreaks and no firefighting equipment at burning sites on the farm. The ministry said the fine was for failing to comply with permit conditions, not for causing the fire, and that no criminal case had been opened.

‘Act of men’

The Erongo Regional Council has asked for clarification of an earlier Namibian Sun report on its emergency disaster risk management committee meeting of 27 August. Its request covers the area burnt, the causes, the role of the police and forestry, the action plan and the disaster fund. It supplied the chief regional officer's presentation and the minutes of the meeting.

In his presentation, titled 'Status of Veldfires in Karibib, Omaruru and Daures Constituencies', chief regional officer Mupenzeni Ntelamo said official figures were still pending. He estimated that more than 27 000 hectares had been affected, particularly around !Kawab, Uikrens and Klassenkamp. At the livestreamed meeting, he said nearly 100 000 hectares had been lost, without specifying where or over what period.

That figure does not appear in the presentation or the minutes.

Ntelamo described one fire as "the act of God", and added: "The rest is, I think, the act of men". His presentation listed lightning among the possible causes and said preliminary observations indicated that many of the fires were caused by human activities. The minutes record that some suspected causes had not been verified and that investigations were needed.

No consequences

At the meeting, Ntelamo said the directorate, the ministry and the police "have not taken any action for us".

The minutes record the chairperson's concern at the lack of arrests or prosecutions over fires suspected to have been set deliberately. They list investigation of suspected causes and possible arson by the police and forestry officials among the meeting's immediate priorities.

The draft action plan was presented at the meeting under a general heading. A written version is headed 'Action plan – veld fires Daures and Karibib constituency'. The council said Omaruru was not meant to be excluded and that the plan is intended to cover the whole region. Members supported broadening it into a comprehensive regional fire management strategy that also covers fires in urban and informal settlements. The plan was not adopted on 27 August, pending input from the forestry directorate.

The disaster fund had a reported balance of about N$264 000 at the time of the meeting. Some institutions expected to contribute had not paid, and the committee asked the finance department to reconcile the amounts due, received and outstanding. The minutes note that the figures must still be confirmed by finance.