Veld fire starters should get five years in jail

Zaka MP Paradza Chakona has called the five year jail term for anyone who starts fveld fires saying the fires were destroying large trecks of natural resources and properties.

Speaking in parliament Chikona said he drive every week to Masvingo and to his constituency in Zaka.

"Veld fires are basically wreaking havoc on an annual basis and this menace is continuing unabated," he said.

"I saw this other day that anybody who starts a veld fire should be sentenced to 5 years compulsory imprisonment without an option of a fine. However, since I have seen these veld fires developing at any stage, I have never heard of anybody who has been arrested and tried despite the rampant commencement of these fires destroying vast tracks of land, vegetation, animals, people and also sustainable livelihood of people. In that regard, I would like to call upon the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to do something to stop this ecological catastrophe that continues to destroy our environment."