A Bindura farmer was on Tuesday sentenced to 18 months in prison by Magistrate Moreblessing Makati for starting a veld fire that burnt another farmer’s inputs and properties worth around ZWL$16 000 on Sunday.
Wicklow Handiroya (67) of Ledbury Farm in Bindura started the fire on his property to clear land for the upcoming summer cropping season.
However, the fire quickly spread out of control and burnt a tobacco seedbed, some shelled maize, tomatoes, inputs belonging to his neighbour, Paradzai Chikundura.
The fire also destroyed plastic farm machinery worth US$800.
Handiroya was spared jail time after he paid a ZWL$600 fine.