Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 66-YEAR-OLD woman from Chipinge, in Manicaland Province, died in a veld fire that broke out on 30 September 2024.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) publicity manager, Ms Amkela Sidange confirmed the incident in a statement on 2 0ctober.
She said three people have been killed in veld fire related incident since the start of the fire season in July this year.
Ms Sidange said a cumulative 759 255.17 hectares were destroyed by fire between the beginning of July and the end of September from 3 246 incidents this year.
“The country recorded another death under circumstances associated with veld fire on September 30 in Sazunza village under Ward 6 in Chipinge where a 66-year-old woman lost her life,” said Ms Sidange.
“Circumstances are that she tried to run to her homestead from a neighbouring homestead in an effort to prevent an approaching veld fire from enchroaching into her homestead. Unfortunately, in the process, she was trapped in the veld fire and lost her life. The country has so far lost three people under circumstances associated with veld fires since the beginning of July to date.”
She said the veld fire land loss had increased by almost 50 percent this year (between July and September) compared to the same period last year.
Online Reporter