Sundaymail Editor
Rosenthal Mutakati
The ignominy of being present when situations that negatively affect other people’s lives unfold cannot be overstated.
Not that you will be the one to blame, but your presence makes you keenly share the pain. It tests you in the most difficult way since we are social animals that are also empathetical.
It’s a dog’s life but someone has to live it. Last month, while on my way from a crucial family meeting in Gokwe, I reluctantly offered a lift to an old grumpy man.
He had a jerry can filled with fuel and was mercilessly helping himself to a roasted cob of yellow maize.The old man’s hair and beard were unkempt.
Initially, I doubted his sanity, but my son coaxed me to help since he had flagged us down in the hope of getting assistance.
As we drove to where he wanted to go, he started talking about how he wanted to sell his cattle to beat his financial woes. But just as we approached his drop-off point, we were shocked to see hordes of farmworkers watching helplessly as the old man’s jalopy — a Mazda B1600 pick-up truck that had seen better days up in smoke.
Smoke billowed from the bonnet and the passenger compartment, while violent red and blue flames consumed the tyres.
“Baba vangu Mutiro iwe,” the old man bellowed while shielding his eyes from the sight of his burning car.
Only God knows whether he will recover from this unexpected loss. As I was no longer of any help, I dropped off the old man and his jerry can and drove home.
Slowly, we are entering the “fire season.”
Crops and vegetation have dried up, which make them highly flammable.
Mice hunters are also now on the prowl.
“Matemba inumber three, madora inumber two, gumbo rembeva number one nemusuva wesadza,” you hear drunk men singing while staggering home during this time of the year.
When travelling on highways, there is need to have adequate fuel to cover the journey to ensure vehicles are not left unattended. There is need to have a reliable jack, spare wheel and fire extinguisher.
“This is the worst time for anyone on the highway. Grass can catch fire at any time and you should always ensure you are not caught up in situations that are difficult to extricate yourself from. You need to be able to fix any challenge you face in as very little time as possible to avoid losing the car to fire,” reckons Mr Bernard Katuzura of Glen Norah.
But the challenges are not confined to travellers and motorists. During the fire season, farmers must ensure they have fireguards to protect their crops, homesteads and equipment. According to experts, veld fires have become one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time.
They are causing unprecedented damage to natural resources, forests, animal habitat and even leading to loss of lives and valuable property.
Veld fires are blazes that get out of control and destroy tracts of forests, grasslands, animals, people and property. As we approach the fire season, which is preceded by the launch of the National Fire Week every second week of May each year, it is important to ensure we are ready.
The fire season starts in July and ends in October.
No one is allowed to start fires outside their homes during this season unless they have given a 14-day notice to Environmental Management Agency (EMA), the police and neighbours.
It is called the fire season because veld fires are prevalent during this time of the year. The period is characterised by propitious weather conditions such as strong winds, hot temperatures and arid conditions. During this period, the fuel load — dry leaves, wood, dead plants and grass — is dry and susceptible to fires.
Most veld fires are caused by activities such as clearing the land, hunting, smoking bees for honey harvesting, among other activities. Even reckless disposal of cigarette stubs can be a recipe for disaster.
Kamoto kamberevere kakapisa matanda mberi.
Inotambika mughetto
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