BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI /NOTHANDO DUBE
Villagers in Hwange’s Jambezi area are struggling to put out a veld fire that has been raging since August 19, leaving hundreds of homesteads and livestock at risk.
The fire is believed to have been started by suspected poachers in the Hillcrest game reserve close to villages under Chief Shana.
A villager Kachechete identified as Christopher Nyoni lost all his property after his hut was razed down by the fire.
A police memo seen by VicFallsLive says the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks, Forestry Commission and police were informed about the threatening fire, but they are yet to respond for various reasons.
The memo said Masikili villagers delegated one Christopher Ndlovu to make a police report about the fire after they realised that they had no capacity to stop it.
“On August 19, 2021 around 1000hrs,Christopher Ndlovu, a male aged 52 of own homestead, Masikili Village 1, Matetsi, Chief Shana, Jambezi discovered a veld fire at Hillcrest, Masikili area,” reads part of the memo.
“He advised the hunting committee chairperson Agrippa Ncube, a male aged 60 years of own homestead, and on 20 August, around 9AM, the hunting committee chairperson mobilized other villagers and went to the scene where they tried to put out the fire, but to no avail.
“Parks and Wildlife Management officials at Matetsi headquarters were advised, but could not attend citing distance and transport challenges.”
The desperate villagers also approached a Forestry Commission official at Fuller Forestry in Victoria Falls only identified as Mr Mutsvangwa, but they did not get any help.
“(The) matter was reported at ZRP Matetsi base, Jambezi by Christopher Ndlovu,” the memo added.
“Scene was attended, but nothing much was done to stop the spreading fire, the fire might have been set by poachers.”
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed that they received reports about the fire and they were trying to find ways of assisting the villagers.
Efforts to get a comment from Zimparks were fruitless as the authority’s spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said he was traveling from Harare to Hwange.
Zimbabwe loses swathes of forests every year due to uncontrolled veld fires often started by poachers and negligent people.