BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Three of the 10 men, who died while battling a veld fire at a farm in Esigodini on Monday, are from Matabeleland North’s Nkayi district, police have confirmed.
The farm workers died from smoke inhalation at Rodrose Farm near Falcon College as they tried to put the raging fire and some bodies were burnt beyond recognition.
Those from Nkayi are Bafana Moyo (53) of Dimbamiwa Village, Thabani Mpofu (46) Gwelutshena Village and Menelisi Ngwenya (20) of Mandangema Village.
Police also identified Luzibo Tshuma of Chiziya Malundu Village in Binga, Kessary Sibanda (53) of Marula, Figtree, Ian Mudimba (38), Simon Mdlongwa (39), Nelisingwane Dlamini (47) of GMB Esigodini, and Oliver Mudimba (39) and England Moyo (20) of Nketa 8 in Bulawayo among those who died.
According to police, the bodies of the victims were taken to the United Bulawayo Hospitals mortuary pending post mortems.
According to witnesses, the fire whose cause is yet to be established, started in the morning and the farm workers with the help of other community members tried to extinguish it, but it quickly spread and trapped the victims.
Police said the trends of veld fires in the country was alarming, and legal action was going to be taken against the offenders.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is concerned with incidents of veld fires in all parts of the country where lives have been lost and property destroyed in situations which clearly show acts of recklessness, negligence and in some cases criminal activities,” police said.
“Those found to be igniting veld fires will be arrested without fear of favour.”