Source: Heavy rains claim 134 lives – herald
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
AS heavy rains continue in various parts of the country, 134 people have been killed since the onset of the rainy season, the latest report from the Department of Civil Protection shows.
The downpours, which resumed this month, have led to 56 marooning incidents, damaged 237 schools and significantly impacted at least 1 500 households.
Infrastructure has also suffered severe losses, exacerbating the crisis faced by communities.
For the first time in history, traffic was disrupted for nearly an hour at the Shangani Bridge along Gweru-Bulawayo Highway on Sunday afternoon following the flooding of the bridge.
Gweru District Development Coordinator, Mr Tarisai Mudadigwa, confirmed that for the first time in history, the Shangani Bridge flooded.
He said the area, which borders the Midlands, recorded over 170mm in nine hours.
Primary school learners who had gone on a weekend trip to a wildlife sanctuary near Shangani had to extend their stay by a day and vehicles could not pass flooded streams.
Masvingo Province has been severely affected, with numerous reported fatalities in various districts.
“The rising levels in water bodies and flooding of rivers have prompted cases of marooning, people being swept away, huts collapsing, and communities cut off from essential services,” reads the report.
In response to the ongoing rainfall activity, ZINWA has issued a public advisory regarding dam spill and water releases at Tugwi-Mukosi, Mutirikwi and Manjirenji dams.
Several tragic incidents illustrate the dire consequences of the rains.
On March 15 in Zvishavane district, 16 gold panners were marooned in Muchingwe River, but were successfully rescued.
In Chiredzi District, four men were rescued on March 13 after attempting to cross the dangerously flooded Runde River, an action that could have easily resulted in more fatalities.
In Muzarabani District, two ECD learners, twins from Utete Primary School, drowned while attempting to cross a flooded stream on their way home on March 9.
In Zaka district, a decomposing body of a man was discovered on March 13, believed to belong to one of the two men who were swept away in Mutirikwi River.
A 10-year-old girl died in Masvingo district, when a hut collapsed due to heavy rains.
In Mudzi district, the breach of Shungururwi Dam on March 15 has threatened the livelihoods of local communities.
On March 16, two men were swept away by Munyati River in Gokwe South District, while attempting to cross in a makeshift boat.
One of them was rescued, but the other remains missing.
Reads the report: “To date, the compilation of damaged roads infrastructure and dams is ongoing. This information will guide disaster recovery efforts going forward.”
In response to the challenges, the Government has activated civil protection structures at national, provincial, district, ward and village levels.
Key interventions include co-dissemination of weather and climate information by the Department of Civil Protection and the Meteorological Services Department, which has proved invaluable in alerting communities to looming hydro-meteorological hazards.
The Government has also disbursed funds to provinces and districts for disaster response, enabling swift actions in critical situations.
Humanitarian assistance, including food and non-food items, has been mobilised and distributed to households affected by the disasters.
Further, 50 tonnes of grain/cereals per district have been prepositioned for disaster response, providing crucial support to families left stranded.
Public awareness campaigns have been made about the dangers associated with the rainfall season, particularly regarding crossing flooded rivers.
Civil protection organisations have been enhanced with resources such as motorised boats and Jet A1 fuel, facilitating effective search and rescue operations.
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