CHIRUMANZU-ZIBAGWE MP and Zanu PF deputy secretary for environment and tourism Auxilia Mnangagwa has called on community leaders to get tough on perpetrators of veld fires, amid reports that most grazing land in the Midlands Province has been destroyed by fire.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
Addressing chiefs, headmen and village heads in Mvuma yesterday, Mnangagwa said veld fires were destroying vast tracts of pastures, mostly in newly-resettled areas.
“Thousands of acres have been destroyed by these fires and communities just watch and don’t even make an effort to stop them, but it is grazing land for your cattle that is being destroyed,” she said.
“Headmen and chiefs you are empowered by an Act of Parliament to protect your environment and communities should, therefore, deal with those caught starting these fires. Please ensure that you put out the fires for sustainable development for your communities.”
Speaking at the same event, Sekai Mutemuri from Nyikavanhu in Chirumhanzu said: “The pastures have been destroyed and some homes razed to the ground by these forest fires. We need immediate measures to help protect our environment and eventually our livestock.”
On her way from Mvuma, Mnangagwa and her security aides were stopped by a raging veld fire which they managed to douse after 30 minutes using tree branches and mineral water.
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“Next week in Harare there will be a meeting through which I will be pushing to ensure that those caught littering the environment will be fined. We need to work and ensure that we are operating in a clean and safe environment which can attract tourists and foster development,” she said.
