Hundreds Left Homeless In Zaka

By Martha Leboho

Over 800 families have been left homeless in Zaka after the heavy rains that stormed the country over the forty-night destroyed their homes.

In an interview, Zaka West Member of Parliament , Ophious Murambiwa, he said 500  people have been affected with the recent heavy storms and they haven’t received any assistance.

“More than 500 pole were affected by the recent rains and so far they haven’t received anything in terms of food and shelter, there is need for food assistance and tents for those with houses which were destroyed by the rains” said Murambiwa

Murambiwa is appealing to the government to put more funding in building of dams and  avail irrigation facilities to the people to ensure that water benefits the communities for both farming and consumption.

During the last quarter of the year, almost all provinces experienced a dry spell with Bulawayo being on top of the list where people could share water from unsafe sources with livestock for consumption and domestic use.

Zaka East , legislator, Clemence Chiduwa said the storm has caused worst damage than that of  Cyclone idai in his constituency and about 326 families have been left homeless and they have not yet received any assistance but i am expecting help from the Civil Protection Unity (CPU)” said Chiduwa.

Zaka Central , Legislator, Davison Svuure said 44 families have been affected in his area by whirl winds and heavy rains that the country expected since the begining of the season, with  such expectation from CPU Svuure said people should be alert and take serious measures before they are seriously affected or lose lives.

Efforts to get a comment for the Ministry of Health were fruitless by time of going to publish on their preparedness in fighting water related diseases and fever.

As the nation continue to get education on Climate change, the Climate Change Management department is raising awareness for citizens to build or settle in properly surveyed areas as an adaptive measure so as to reduce the loss of life.

As experienced in the past few days, most cities have been affected by poor drainage system which was said to have lived its time, since they were constructed years ago by the colonial regime.

Chairperson of the portfolio committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing in Parliament, Hon Miriam Chikukwa said local authorities lack proper planning and always want to act after a disaster occurs.

Chikukwa told this publication that as a committee they have gone around the country urging councils to remove sand and solid waste in the drains.

The Government of Zimbabwe urges members of the public to avoid flooded rivers and dams while they are supposed to report any unusual case related to danger in this rainy season. Already more than 10 people have been killed by lighting around the country and corrective measure should be taken into consideration during this period.

Masvingo Province was previously affected by cyclone Idai last year and the effects continue to ravage the province.