CHAPTER 38:02
HERBAGE PRESERVATION (PREVENTION OF FIRES)

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

    SECTION

    1.    Short title

    2.    Interpretation

    3.    Establishment of Herbage Preservation Committees

    4.    Prohibition of burning vegetation

    5.    Duty to extinguish fires

    6.    Notice to be given before burning vegetation

    7.    Power to prohibit burning of vegetation

    8.    Prohibition of burning of vegetation by servants

    9.    Firebreaks

    10.    Herbage Preservation Committees may order compulsory firebreaks

    11.    Power to require assistance in putting out fire

    12.    Protection of life, person or property by counter-firing

    13.    Liability of servant and employer

    14.    Offences and penalty

    15.    Civil remedy preserved

    16.    Regulations

Act 37, 1977,
S.I. 8, 1978.

An Act to prevent and control bush and other fires.

[Date of Commencement: 1st February, 1978]

1.    Short title

    This Act may be cited as the Herbage Preservation (Prevention of Fires) Act.

2.    Interpretation

    In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

    "boundary firebreak" means a firebreak never less than six metres in width one edge of which, throughout the length of the firebreak, is contiguous to a land boundary;

    "firebreak" means a strip of land cleared of inflammable matter to prevent the spread of fire;

    "Herbage Preservation Committee" means the Principal Herbage Preservation Committee or a Subordinate Herbage Preservation Committee established by or under section 3;

    "vegetation" means growing or standing vegetation, and includes any tree or part thereof and any bush, shrub, brushwood, undergrowth, grass, crops or stubble.

3.    Establishment of Herbage Preservation Committees

    (1) There is hereby established a body called the Principal Herbage Preservation Committee which shall consist of such persons or body of persons as the Minister shall, by notice published in the Gazette, appoint.

    (2) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, establish such number of bodies called Subordinate Herbage Preservation Committees as he thinks appropriate which shall each consist of such persons or body of persons as the Minister shall, by such notice, appoint.

    (3) The area of authority of the Principal Herbage Preservation Committee shall be the whole of Botswana and the area of authority of a Subordinate Herbage Preservation Committee shall be such area as the Minister shall, by order published in the Gazette, specify.

    (4) The Minister shall appoint a chairman of each Herbage Preservation Committee from among the members of that Committee.

    (5) The Principal Herbage Preservation Committee may give directions to a Subordinate Herbage Preservation Committee, or to such Committees generally, as to the carrying out of its or their functions under this Act and every such Committee to whom such directions have been given shall comply with those directions.