Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards veld fire management in Marondera district: a case of ward 3

Author

Mutukwa, Evercaring E.

Title

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards veld fire management in Marondera district: a case of ward 3

Abstract

This study explored the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of local communities toward veldfire management in Ward 3 of Marondera District. In Zimbabwe, veld-fires are a significant environmental concern, contributing to deforestation, biodiversity loss, soil degradation, and air pollution, veld-fires devastate agricultural lands, destroy infrastructure, and disrupt livelihoods, particularly for rural communities who are heavily reliant on natural resources. Data collected using a mixed-methods approach involving questionnaires, interviews, and field observations. A total of 105 valid responses were collected, resulting in a 70% response rate. The study found that community knowledge was fair (62.5%), attitudes were generally positive (75%), but practices were moderate/lagging (52%). Correlation analysis revealed a significant link between knowledge and attitudes (r = 0.45, p < 0.01), while attitudes showed a weaker correlation with practices (r = 0.28, p < 0.05). However, no significant correlation was found between knowledge and practices. The results suggest that awareness alone is insufficient to improve veldfire management practices; instead, targeted educational programs, resource support, and capacity-building efforts are needed to bridge the gap between knowledge and action.

Date

May 2025

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP)

Veldfire management

Deforestation

veld-fires

Supervisor

Mr. A. Kundhlande