FAILURE to participate in putting out a veldfire is an offence, according to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
The crime can attract a fine of more than US$5 000.
This was said by EMA spokesperson for Bulawayo province Memory Kaiyo, who told NewsDay that veldfires were more common in Burnside and Pumula areas in the second capital.
Kaiyo said veldfires could destroy lives and property.
“These [veldfires] can be caused by people who want to clear land for farming purposes, illegal artisanal miners, children if left alone playing with matches and smokers, among other causes,” she said.
“Veldfires are a common feature in areas like Burnside and in ward 17 Pumula in Bulawayo.”
Her sentiments came as an elderly woman from Mhondoro died on Sunday this week while trying to put out a veldfire ravaging her garden, amid calls by EMA for citizens to exercise caution when dealing with fire.
In a statement this week, EMA spokesperson Amkela Sidange said the woman, whose identity is yet to be disclosed, was the second victim of veldfire-related deaths since the onset of the veldfire restriction period on July 1.
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She said the elderly woman, from Silver Star village 2 in ward 9, Mhondoro-Ngezi district, was attempting to extinguish a wildfire that had reignited in her garden when she was caught in the flames and burnt beyond recognition.
“The incident occurred on Sunday, July 28, at around 1pm, when a group of villagers, including the deceased, had initially managed to contain the fire.
“However, moments later, the fire reignited. The woman, along with her 12-year-old grandson and other relatives, attempted to extinguish it again,” Sidange said.
“The veldfire burnt approximately six hectares and five gardens.”
Sidanke said the incident came after a disabled man also died in a veldfire-related incident in the St Faiths area of Makoni district in Manicaland province.
She said a cumulative total of 150 538,84 hectares of land was burnt by wildfires in 571 recorded fire incidents since the beginning of the fire season.
“We encourage only able-bodied people between the ages of 16 and 65 to participate in fighting veldfires,” she said.
Sidange said technical departments such as Forestry Commission, Agritex and EMA would continue offering capacity building in firefighting to communities.
Meanwhile, Bulawayo acting chief fire officer Mhlangano Moyo has warned residents not to start veldfires without council approval.
The warning comes after a veldfire started by a team from the Forest Commission marking a fireguard in Burnside last week went out of control.
“We kindly urge residents not to start fire without our approval. We had disallowed this exercise. I want to urge residents not to start fire without our approval as this is dangerous,” Moyo said.
“It is no longer conducive to start fire these days because temperatures are high. We have what we call a controlled burn, which is supervised by the brigade, but this time, we charge. When it is around March, it is free.”
He said the fire covered the area from Four Winds right to Criterion Water Works, including the whole of Burnside areas.
