The Government through the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) says it will assist the families of the 10 men who lost their lives in a veld fire incident in Umzingwane District last year.
The affected families are set to receive a bereavement package, which includes an education fund to put the children of the deceased through school.
Mhlaliswa Ngwenya, who survived the fire disaster, will also receive a US$1 000 token of appreciation.
In a speech read on his behalf by Environmental Management Agency board chairman, Ambassador Zenzo Nsimbi, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said:
<blockquote>
The death of the 10 men was a loss not only to their immediate families but to the entire nation. Such a loss is not felt by the immediate families only but by the entire nation.
This relief involves payment of a once-off condolence token to the next of kin for the three victims without spouses and children, payment of a once-off bereavement relief to the surviving spouses of seven victims, and payment of a once-off token of appreciation to the sole survivor of the fire disaster.
</blockquote>
The ten people died at a farm known as Lot 43 of Essexvale, near Falcon College, while trying to put out a raging veldt fire.
Veld fires are a significant problem in Zimbabwe, particularly during the dry season between May and October.
They are are often caused by human activity, such as improper disposal of cigarette butts or burning of fields for agricultural purposes.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Govt Offers Bereavement Package To Esigodini Veld Fire Victims

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 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.

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>

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