Botswana: No Arrests in Boteti Veld Fires

Minister of Environment Wildlife and Tourism Kitso Mokaila told Parliament that they have not identified the culprits in the veld fires that destroyed 523, 300 hectares in Boteti recently. He was responding to a question from the MP for Boteti North, Slumber Tsogwane.

Mokaila said that there are firebreaks in the Boteti Sub-District which was recently engulfed by veld fires. He said that at the time of the outbreak, the firebreaks were being maintained. To counter the recurrence of the fires, the Department of Forestry and Range Resources has developed a timely firebreak maintenance, he said. He added that preparations for fire season will be done in time. The ministry also receives daily satellite data on fire outbreaks around the country. "This will facilitate early detection of fires and mobilisation for their containment," Mokaila said. He explained that other strategies to fight the veld fire that involve communities are in place. The ministry has plans to use Airborne Fire Fighting system, Mokaila announced.

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