According to the state outline, Moyo, Nyathi and Ndlovu who are some of the illegal settlers who led the occupation of Redwood farm on 15 September and they lit a fire which went out of control and spread to nearby farms. The fire destroyed property worth over US$10 000.
In an assessment report compiled by the Environment Management Authority (EMA) and in court papers, the damaged area is estimated to be approximately 1 600 hectares. The area was used for grazing and irrigation farming by the Khuluma Usenza Co-operative.
The property damaged included electric motors, armoured cables, and fencing poles as well as water pipes.
In sending them to jail, Mr Ndebele took into account that the Act provides for a fine of US$8 000 per hectare destroyed, which would have meant they would have been ordered to pay a fine of US$8 million.
Meanwhile veld fires in Matebeleland South last week destroyed thousands of hectares especially in Insiza. Andrew Langa the Zanu (PF) legislator for the area said veld fires had been so severe that there was a possibility of livestock dying if it did not rain soon.
I have been a Member of Parliament for Insiza for seven years and I tell you, this year has been the worst in terms of veld fires. About 24 000 hectares of land have been destroyed so far, and we are facing a situation where some livestock will die if the rains do not fall in the near future, said Langa.
Post published in: Politics