Veld fire destroys grazing land
Veld fire destroys grazing land
2 November 2009
published by www.gov.bw
Bostwana — A veld fire that erupted in Mareletsane and Mmankwe cattle posts near Topisi has destroyed grazing land.
According to the Mareletsane cattle post residents, the fire started on Tuesday within the periphery of the Mmadinare.
The Mareletsane cattle post residents explained that the fire was rampant on the hills and was not easy to extinguish as it was spreading fast.
One of the residents, Mr Rankutsi Phutie revealed that he saw a fire on Tuesday and it was evident that it emerged from the Mmadinare area.
I realised that the pasture land was on fire on Tuesday and I noticed that it was burning furiously from the Mmadinare area more especially around the Mmankwe cattle post.
Mr Phutie also indicated that the fire could have spared a great deal of pasture had the public response to the fire been timeous enough.
The fire is defeating us because we are very thin on the ground and if there were initially too many of us on the trot we could have long put it off, he said.
Upon receiving the report about the fire, police and the district office in Palapye mobilised personnel and resources to fight the fire.
The Palapye District Officer, Mrs Veronica Rabakane said in an interview that in addition to personnel from Palapye they were assisted by the public officers from Selibe-Phikwe and members of the public from Tamasane and surrounding cattle posts.
Mrs Rabakane indicated that the fire was furious.
She applauded all those who were involved in fighting the fire saying she was particularly impressed by the behaviour of the youth who were selfless in their efforts to try to save fauna and flora.
In regard to the damage caused by the fire, the Palapye station commander, Superintendent Kenneth Masole said personal property had been spared so far saying pasture was demolished.
Superintendent Masole indicated that the cause of fire was not yet known.
