The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) says more than one million hectares of forests and farmland have been destroyed by veld fires over a three-month period. The fires have killed 16 people during the same period.
EMA environment education and publicity manager Amkela Sidange said that overall, 6 042 incidences of veld fires have so far been recorded, compared to 3 673 in 2021. This represents a 64.5% increase.
Sidange revealed that the average burnt area per incident has risen to the current 253.5 hectares from 234 hectares in 2021. <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/new-one-million-hectares-destroyed-by-fire">She was quoted as saying:</a>
<blockquote>
Week-on-week, burnt area trends indicate that the 2022 fire restriction has kept a constant upward trend compared to the 2021 fire season.
This is attributed to the dry and windy conditions that are prevailing in the country, and this has persisted for longer than usual, a possible indication of shifts in seasons due to climatic change.
</blockquote>
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa recently told the Senate that the government is considering amending the Environmental Management Act so that people who carelessly start veld fires are punished severely.
This follows the death of ten people on Monday who died while trying to put out a veld fire at Rodrose Farm in Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province.
In August this year, an 80-year-old security guard from Plumstead Farm, Banket, was killed by a runaway veld fire and his corpse charred beyond recognition.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the now-deceased, Sakatiza Mariza, was on his way home from his workplace when he was burnt.
In 2019, a Bindura farmer was sentenced to 18 months in prison by Magistrate Moreblessing Makati for starting a veld fire that burnt another farmer’s inputs and properties worth around ZWL$16 000.
Wicklow Handiroya (67) of Ledbury Farm in Bindura started the fire on his property to clear land for the upcoming summer cropping season.

Pindula News

One Million Hectares Destroyed By Fire - EMA

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>

Arsonists To Get Stiffer Sentences

Ten (10) people died on Monday and at least five others were treated for smoke inhalation at a farm in Esigodini, Matabeleland South Province while trying to put out a raging veldt fire.
Police officers were dispatched to a farm known as Lot 43 of Essexvale, near Falcon College, after reports of multiple people succumbing to a wildfire.
10 bodies, most of them farm workers, were recovered while five others who took part in fighting the fire survived and were taken to hospital as a precaution.
Environmental Management Agency (EMA) regional manager Descent Ndlovu told <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/10/10-farm-workers-killed-while-battling-veld-fire-in-esigodini/">ZimLive</a> that he was alerted of the tragedy while he was in Gwanda. He said:
<blockquote>
I understand from our people on the ground that there’re lives that have been lost and I’m distressed by the situation. What I understand is that there are 10 deaths.
</blockquote>
Witnesses said the fire started during strong winds sometime in the morning.
The farm’s owner Abel Moyo then asked his farm workers and others from surrounding farms to put out the fire.
A villager who claimed he knew all the dead by name said:
<blockquote>
One by one, they began getting disoriented from smoke inhalation and they died. It’s such a sad situation, they were only trying to help.
</blockquote>
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) on Sunday warned members of the public of the dangers of veld fires. It said in a bulletin:
<blockquote>
Strong winds increase the occurrence of veldt fires. Put out any fires found in open veld and road-sides. Do not leave any fire unattended.
</blockquote>

10 Farm Workers Die While Fighting Veld Fire In Esigodini

A 74-year-old man was burnt to death by a fire while clearing the field in Insiza, about 82 km northeast of Bulawayo.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said the unnamed man died on the spot. In a report seen by Pindula News, police said:
<blockquote>
The ZRP reports a sad incident in which a 74-year-old man died on the spot after he was engulfed by the fire whilst clearing the field on 12/09/22 at Lochard Village 05, Insiza.
</blockquote>
Fire incidents have been on the rise lately with a Somabhula <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/09/12/veld-fire-destroys-3-brand-new-tractors-other-farm-equipment-at-a-somabula-farm/">farmer losing three brand new tractors</a> and other farm equipment in an inferno last week.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) of Zimbabwe <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zimbabwe-weather-report-forecast-16-to-18-september-2022/">yesterday warned</a> that the country was already in a FIRE SEASON characterised by Dry and windy conditions which exacerbate the spread of veldt fires.
MSD also reminded farmers and members of the public that while land preparations are vital at this stage, it is illegal to start veld fires and those engaged in such on-farm and other outdoor activities will be violating the laws.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

A 74-year-old Man Burnt To Death By Fire While Clearing The Field

Police in Mashonaland East Province are investigating the death of a 77-year-old man from Sadza who was burnt beyond recognition by wildfires last week.
The Herald reports that on September 17, 2021, the now-deceased Gwapedza Takaindisa Julius went to a memorial service of his mother-in-law in Nhema Village, Sadza in the company of his nephews.
On September 19 around 7 am, Takaindisa went to a nearby bush to relieve himself and that’s when he was reportedly engulfed by the veld fire and burnt beyond recognition.
Deputy police spokesperson for Mashonaland East province Assistant Inspector Misheck Denhere confirmed the incident adding that investigations into the case are in progress. He said:
<blockquote>
It is said that he was seen trying to put out the fire by a female juvenile from Zerekete 2, Sadza who then advised the village head Cannan Mukono (55) through text messages but the messages were not delivered since his mobile phone was off.
On the same day around 1 pm, the deceased’s nephews and other people who were at the memorial service started looking for him. During the search, they reportedly met the village head, Mr Mukono who advised them that he had received a text message from his neighbour about someone who was trying to put off the fire but failed and was burnt to death.
It is said they teamed up and went to the scene and discovered the body of Takaindisa burnt beyond recognition. His national identity card was also recovered at the scene near the body.
</blockquote>
Denhere said further investigations revealed that the fire was started by one Elliot Mukono of Mubani Village 1 while clearing a graveyard, about two kilometres away from the homestead where the memorial service was being conducted.
Mukono has since been arrested while Takaindisa’s body was conveyed to Sadza General Hospital mortuary for post-mortem. 
When your clothes are on fire, it might help to Lay flat with your legs out straight so as much of your body as possible is in contact with the ground to smother any flames. 
Covering your face will help prevent facial burns. Roll: Try to extinguish the flames by rolling over and over. 
Pay attention to what’s burning and focus on putting out that area of your body. 

More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/77-year-old-man-burnt-to-death-by-wild-fires/">The Herald</a>

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