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Daniel Chigunwe Herald Correspondent 

Seven families in the Mazowe district have been left homeless after their compounds and property were razed down by a veld fire yesterday.

The fire which is suspected to have been started by someone who was attending to a wheat field chasing away birds, destroyed homes of farmers in the area who resultantly lost tonnes of grain in storage and fertilisers that had been secured for the 2022-2023 farming season.

Though police could not be readily available for comment, a local farmer in the area Mr Enison Chishaka confirmed the incident saying the families are currently in dire need of assistance since much of their means of sustenance was lost in the inferno.

“I confirm that our brethren have been met with disaster as a result of an uncontrolled veld fire that burnt all their belongings and savings, as of now we have seven families that are affected between yesterday and today.

“All these families are in Mazowe North ward 26 area of Umvukwesi flats, Mandindindi and the other families are from ward 4 Mukunyadzi village with a Marowa family losing 25 bags of maize and five bags of fertilisers,” said Chishaka.

Some of the homes destroyed by the veld fire in Mazowe North.

Meanwhile another youthful farmer in Mvurwi, Benedict Chagumuka lost about 15 hectares of wheat this afternoon in yet another veld fire.

“I have lost about 15 hectares of my wheat this afternoon after a veld fire which we have not yet established its origin ravaged the field, we had to seek the assistance of GMB and other stakeholders in the community, it’s a huge loss for me,” said Chagumuka.