Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. A VELD fire on Tuesday destroyed five farms in Murewa South constituency, leaving locals in dire need of assistance.
A team of government and district development co-ordinator (DDC)’s office officials and Murewa South legislator Noah Mangondo yesterday visited 20 of the 40 homesteads affected by the inferno to assess the damage.
So big was the damage such that a number of tobacco farmers lost their seedlings, while two villagers are reportedly nursing life-threatening burns.
The fire also destroyed several cattle pens, fowl runs, a vehicle, orchards, goats and other property.
“I saw a thick smoke billowing into the air from Macheke town, and had to rush to Linden with others and found out that a veld fire had razed through our community,” said a villager who resides at Linden Farm A (sic).
A tobacco farmer at Linden A, Simbarashe Ndoro, said his tobacco farming project was history.
“I do not know how to start from here. My seed beds were destroyed, a 50-metre irrigation pipe system was also burnt,” he said.
Some of the affected farms include Flint, Welcome Home, Softand Boterekwa.The farms are home to several resettled farmers who survive on tobacco and horticulture farming.
The fire was reportedly started by a mental patient who was clearing land ahead of the rainy season.
The inferno, which destroyed an estimated 2 000 hectares, died down after crossing Shawanhowe River into Marondera district.
Another farmer, Joseph Makoni, who lost two houses, a vehicle and two bicycles, said: “My wife had to call me while I was in Macheke notifying me of the fire sweeping across.
“It was too late for me to be there in time. Those at home could not do anything as the fire was intense due to the wind.”
Mangondo yesterday donated an assortment of foodstuffs, kitchen utensils and blankets to the affected families.
“This is a disaster and I am happy that all government departments and officials from the DDC’s office are here so that the Department of Civil Protection is activated to assist the affected villagers,” he said.
“It is sad that we have farmers who lost their tobacco seed beds, irrigation pipes, to the fire. A lot of livelihoods were affected.
“Imagine that several goats were roasted in the inferno, while grazing in the plains. We have families who lost food stocks and lifetime savings. It is sad.
“As the area MP, I had to source food, blankets and some utensils for the affected families. We have to be there for them.”
Mangondo appealed to well-wishers to assist the affected families, adding that “some of them need counselling”.
Some of the affected are the elderly and child-headed families.
The Environmental Management Agency is on the ground to compile a report on the extent of the destruction caused by the fire.
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