Published by the government of Zimbabwe
7 July 2008
Harare — AT least 10 hectares of sugar beans worth trillions of dollars were burnt down over the weekend by a raging veld fire that also destroyed pastures at a farm in Norton belonging to Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono.
According to police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri, the fire was started by five men warming themselves near Dr Gono's Donnington Farm. The men reportedly left the fire burning and it spread to nearby grazing fields. The fire is said to have spread to sugar bean fields razing down more than 10 hectares. Police said investigations into the case were underway. Uncontrolled fires have wreaked havoc destroying vast grasslands, property, crops and timber plantations throughout the country prompting the Government to ban open fires. The ban was effected this year and anyone who starts a veld fire is liable to pay a fine of $90 billion for a hectare of land destroyed with a maximum jail term of one year.
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