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By Elvis Dumba
Raffingora – Irrigation equipment worth US39 000 and 45 hectares of ready-to-harvest wheat were destroyed as a result of a runaway veld fire at Dalston Farm near Raffingora.
The fire also rendered some Zvimba families homeless and without food after destroying homes.
A man in Zvimba North Constituency who was clearing his field at Wello Village failed to keep the fire under control before it raged on, leaving a trail of destruction over 8 kilometers.
Chief Katizagombo (Gibson Jenami) said severe penalties should be meted out on perpetrators behind veld fires.
“We have been carrying out numerous awareness campaigns in educating our people on the issue of starting uncontrolled fires and it’s unfortunate that we have lost homes and wheat as well as an irrigation pivot just as a result of someone’s carelessness. I think it’s high time we introduce stiffer penalties on those found starting these uncontrolled fires,” he said.
Zvimba District Development Coordinator, Anele Desmond Gumbotshuma confirmed the incident and said Environment Management Agency, Zvimba Rural District Council, and Civil Protection Unit have been engaged to assess the damage and respond to the needs of families left homeless.
“A fire which various agencies are still investigating broke out in Zvimba’s Ward 14 destroying homes and at least 45 hectares of wheat which were ready for harvesting and some villagers also lost their homes and it’s fortunate there was no loss to human life,” he said.
“We will work with the local authority, EMA, and department of social welfare through the Civil Protection Unit to assist those families affected. We are waiting for a full report from the investigation team and those assessing the damage to ascertain how people’s livelihoods have been affected.”
Gumbotshuma said incidents of veld fires have now become a worrying trend in the district – a development which should be stopped as thousands of hectares of vegetation are being destroyed.
“We are extremely worried about increasing incidents of veld fires in our district and we encourage people to have fire guards and create fire fighting teams in their communities. We are also advocating for harsh penalties on those people responsible for starting these veld fires,” he said.
Rambwai Mapako, Environmental Management Agency Provincial Manager for Mashonaland West Province said investigations over the incident are ongoing and the agency will provide a detailed report once investigations are complete.
Zvimba North Constituency Legislator, Marian Chombo, urged communities to desist from starting unnecessary fires that become a challenge to control.
“We have been encouraging communities to desist from the habit of starting unnecessary fires as we are losing important infrastructure with livelihoods being affected. We have engaged various partners to provide food and blankets to affected families as we are coming up with strategies for long-term assistance,” she said.
76-year-old Dudzai Banda who lost all her property after her three huts caught the fire said she has been left without anything as her three tonnes of stored maize were destroyed to ashes
“I don’t know where to begin from. The maize I thought was going to assist me in feeding my orphaned grandchildren until the next season has been destroyed together with their school uniforms,” she said with tears streaming down her cheeks.
The country is currently in a high fire incident season and veld fires incidents have been increasing with thousands of vegetation and properties being destroyed with the loss of human life in some instances.