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Khumbulani Mfisha
AN Odzi man was hauled before the courts for allegedly causing a veld fire that destroyed houses and grazing land in the area recently.Talent Tunga (23) of Green Valley Farm One pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Mutare magistrate Mrs Sekai Chiwundura to answer charges for allegedly causing a veld fire.
Mrs Chiwundura adjourned the case to September 12 to allow more witnesses to testify.
However, Tunga vehemently denied ever starting a veld fire. “I just saw fire spreading in the area and I don’t know its origins,” he said. “When I went to where the fire was burning, I saw two men trying to extinguish it.
“I asked them what was happening and they said they were cutting thatching grass when they saw the fire coming in their direction.”
A witness, Agrippa Mbofana, implicated Tunga as the source of the veld fire.
“The accused came to our home (Green Valley Farm Two) and asked for ambers, saying he wanted to burn something in his garden.
“I advised him to sprinkle water around his garden before starting the fire so that the fire would not spread to areas since there was no fireguard.
“I left home proceeding to the nearest shopping centre and left Tunga with Tawanda Chidzewo whom I believe gave him the ambers.
“Before I arrived at the shops, I saw smoke coming from Tunga’s garden. When I went back home, I saw Tunga rushing towards our home saying he had failed to control the fire.
“We only managed to protect our house, but failed to totally extinguish the fire which spread to the pastures. It also destroyed other farmers’ houses,” said Mbofana.
Online Reporter