adminMidlands Bureau Chief
Veld fires have killed three members of the same family in Chirumanzu District and destroyed property worth thousands of dollars in Midlands Province, an Environmental Management Agency official has said.
Environment and Monitoring Officer for Midlands, Leonard Berekwa, said veld fires have destroyed 88,883 hectares of land so far this year compared to 90,192 ha the whole of last year’s fire season.
The three family members died on the spot after they were burnt beyond recognition while trying to put out a fire started by a neighbour in Chiodza area’s Ward 12.
Said Berekwa:
“Three members of the same family, an aunt and her sister’s two kids died on the spot on September 29. The three were burnt beyond recognition and the third child is still admitted to Gweru Provincial Hospital where she’s receiving treatment”.
Berekwa said property worth more than $11,000 was destroyed by veld fires in various parts of the province.
He said some of the property destroyed included a farmhouse at Hargley Estates in Lalapanzi area of Chirumanzu district, a tractor and some houses in the province.
“The farmhouse in Lalapanzi and household property belonged to Elias Ziro, Midlands’ former lands officer. The property destroyed is valued at $4,300.
In Somabhula area’s Ward 15, a YTO tractor valued at $5,000 was burnt at Gables Makate Ranch. The same fire destroyed approximately 15,000ha in Gweru and Shurugwi districts. We’ll keep educating our communities, especially our farmers in fire fighting strategies to avoid loss of life and property,” said Berekwa.
He said veld fires were likely to destroy more hectares of vegetation this year compared to last year since more than 88,000 ha of land have been destroyed already compared to over 90,000ha in the 2013 season.
“Midlands veld fire incidences are still on the high. We’ve the fourth highest fire incidences as a province in the country after Mashonaland East, West and Central (not necessarily in that order). As EMA, we’ll continue equipping and training communities in building fire guards and adopting other strategies needed in fighting veld fires and any other fire outbreak,” he said.
Berekwa said the four districts with the highest veld fire incidences are Chirumanzu, Shurugwi, Gweru and Kwekwe, in that order.
The districts with the least fire incidences are Zvishavane and Mberengwa while the two Gokwe Districts (North and South) are on positions five and six.
EMA yesterday took a team of journalists on a tour of some of the areas where it trained resettled farmers in fire fighting strategies.
The team toured resettled areas in Kwekwe District’s Mlezu area in Chiwundura.
Local councillor for Ward 30, Elisha Gwatidzo, said most fires were started by motorists who have breakdowns along the highway and some few villagers seeking to clear land for farming.
“Some villagers also get rid of bushy areas by starting veld fires in a bid to reduce muggings and robbery cases. We’re grateful to EMA for training and retooling us because we can now defend our property and pastures for our cattle from fire,” he said.
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derick.khumalo