possible causes of the fires (malicious damage to property). According to
Mhungu, although illegally settling and encroaching onto the plantations
started in 2009 and fires occur every year, this time around the instances
are far much more and worse. “It has never been this bad. There are
fires every day since in October to date,” Mhungu said. (ZPP spoke to him
on 16 November). As of 12 November 2015, 14000 hectares of exotic
trees’ plantations had been burnt and by the time of going to press the
four affected timber companies - Border Timbers , Wattle Company,
Mutare Board and Paper Mills, and Allied Timbers in financial loss which
could well be in millions of dollars. Although the Federation has reported
the burning incidences to the police and taken some of the cases to
court, lasting redress is yet to be brokered or effected.
Large fires blaze at a plantation in Chimanimani. This is one of many fire outbreaks between October and November.
Photo Credit: ZPP
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