The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched an investigation into reports of petrol-driven vehicle fires in and around Harare.
According to ZRP spokesperson Paul Nyathi, the incidents took place at various business premises in Avondale, Highlands, Newlands, and Goromonzi during the early hours of Friday, 28 March 2025.
Nyathi said the vehicles were deliberately set on fire by the individuals driving them. After igniting the fires, the perpetrators swiftly jumped into accompanying vehicles and fled the scenes at high speeds. He said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has received reports of petrol-instigated burning of moving vehicles at business premises in Avondale, Highlands, Newlands and Goromonzi on 28th March 2025 between 12 midnight and 4 am.
This was done by suspects who were driving the vehicles. They quickly jumped onto accompanying vehicles and ran away.
</blockquote>
Nyathi added that the ZRP is investigating the incidents and will provide more details in due course.

Pindula News

The police in Zimbabwe are investigating fires starting in cars in neighborhoods in Harare. Police say that the cars were intentionally set on fire by the people driving them. The incidents happened in Avondale, Highlands, Newlands, and Goromonzi in the early hours of March 28, 2025. After setting the cars on fire, the suspects quickly got into other cars and drove away fast. The police are looking into the incidents and will give more information later.

Police Investigate Burnings Of Vehicles In Harare Suburbs

Wheat valued at close to US$800 000 was destroyed by fire in 20 separate incidents last week, with authorities and farmers putting the blame on arsonists in most of the cases.
Agritex extension officers deployed to assess the damage caused by the fires noted that most of the fires started inside the wheat fields thus pointing to possible sabotage.
Chief director for Agriculture and Rural Development Advisory Services, Obert Jiri, said:
<blockquote>
After our extension officers’ inspections, it was clear that in most cases, the fires were not from the veld but started infield, pointing to possible sabotage, and we want our farmers to be on the lookout.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Farmers Union executive director, Paul Zakariya, said the high number of wheat fields that have been affected by fires this year is unusual. Said Zakariya:
<blockquote>
This is the first-ever season we have had such high numbers of fires in wheat fields.
There is suspicion that some disgruntled elements might want to disrupt the projected bumper harvest.
We need to act collectively to counter such people.
</blockquote>
Pieter Gertenbach, a Mvurwi farmer, lost a 35-hectare wheat field to fire at his Pembi Chase Farm.
The crop was supported by the Presidential Inputs Scheme and Gertenbach believes the fire was an act of sabotage. He said:
<blockquote>
This is an act of sabotage, no doubt about it. Some people are deliberately trying to fight the President’s efforts to improve agriculture.
This was not a wild veld fire that started out of nowhere; the fire started from within the field.
</blockquote>
Benedict Chagumuka of Machewe Farm in Mvurwi who lost 15 hectares of wheat to a fire last week also claimed the fire started in the middle of the field. He said:
<blockquote>
The fire started in the middle of the field. After inspecting the field, I could tell the source of the fire. Sadly, I did not have insurance for the crop.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/fire-destroys-us800k-wheat">The Sunday Mail</a>

Fire Destroys US$800k Wheat, Farmers Blame Saboteurs

The government is considering amending the Environmental Management Act so that people who carelessly start veld fires are punished severely.
Speaking in the Senate on Thursday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said that Cabinet is seized with the matter. She said:
<blockquote>
I understood what the chief said that traditional courts deal with these cases but when cases like those of arson are brought to the magistrates’ courts, they are not dealt with in a just manner, especially considering that such people would have destroyed people’s lives and property.
This Act will have to be looked into so that it comes back to the August House to ascertain whether the law is prohibitive, but we need to ascertain whether the law is punitive enough so that when people have participated in arson, then they will be deterred by heavy sentences.
I am going to engage the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Honourable (Ziyambi) Ziyambi so that the Act should be looked at.
Even the Attorney-General should look at the law and the law will be brought to this august House so that it is reviewed or amended. Cabinet is really seized with the matter.
We spoke at length concerning the issue and the suggestion will be taken up to Cabinet but we emphasise and we understand this issue.
</blockquote>
On Monday, ten people died while trying to put out a veld fire at Rodrose Farm in Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200002017/govt-gets-tough-on-veld-fires">NewsDay</a>

Arson Latest News

Latest Jobs