Omaruru charcoal producer fined N$8 000 over fire safety lapses

An Omaruru charcoal producer has been fined N$8 000 after an inspection carried out by the directorate of forestry in the aftermath of a veldfire that burnt more than 10 000 hectares across several farms in the district found no firebreaks and no firefighting equipment at the charcoal-burning sites on the farm.

The fine was issued for failing to comply with charcoal permit conditions, not for starting the fire.

"It is not because he caused the fire," environment and forestry ministry spokesperson Vilho Hangula told Namibian Sun.

Hangula also confirmed that no criminal case has been opened in connection with the fire.

The fires were brought under control on 31 August.

The Omaruru Farmers' Association said at least six farms were affected, mostly livestock farms and one game farm, with 6 000 hectares lost on the farm Kompaneno alone.

Hangula advised that property owners who believe someone acted negligently and caused the fire are free to pursue the matter privately.

"Property owners who feel aggrieved are free to take the person who caused the fire to court or sue him," he said.

The forestry directorate has confirmed there are no designated fire management areas or fire hazard areas in the Erongo region.

Asked whether the Forest Act's fire offences apply to fires on commercial farms, Hangula said: "It is true Section 40 does not mention commercial farms."

He said the Forest Act is under revision to address challenges observed over the years.

Hangula said landowners could still claim compensation from whoever they believed had caused a fire but warned that proving this in court is not straightforward.

"One still has to present evidence to courts, and it is sometimes very difficult," he said.

Under-resourced

At an emergency meeting of the Erongo Regional Council's Disaster Risk Management Committee on 27 August, council chairperson Lazarus Kanelombe asked: "Why, despite hectares and hectares of destroyed farmland, has no one been arrested and charged to date?"

Charcoal permit conditions require firefighting equipment on site and all kilns to be guarded at all times.

Hangula said there are 58 active charcoal-producing farms in the region.

From January to date, 42 have been inspected, including their charcoal production and burning sites. The remaining 16 have not been inspected. He said spot inspections are conducted regularly and that non-compliance is often encountered and operations stopped.

On resources, he said the directorate has no budget for individual offices and only one vehicle is available for Omaruru.

"The reality is that resources, be it manpower, equipment or funding, are not adequate to cater for this large area," he said.

Forestry did not attend the 27 August meeting, citing mobility challenges, and met the chief regional officer the following day.

The directorate is named as the lead sector on almost every measure in the region's draft veldfire action plan, which was tabled on 27 August but not adopted.

Chief regional officer Mupenzeni Ntelamo declined to comment on the Forestry finding. "We have no comment, as we are confident that Forestry is operating within the scope of their mandate," he said.