Cyclone Chalane: Kreda Mobilizes Fuel

By Stephen Ephraem

NEWS of a tropical storm named Cyclone Chalane which is expected to reach Zimbabwe’s eastern parts of Chimanimani and surrounding area on the night of Tuesday 29 December 2020 has send anyone who cares into preparatory mood.

The coming of Tropical Cyclone Chalane triggers uncertainty to most residents of Chipinge and Chimanimani who lost their beloved to another tropical storm named Tropical Cyclone Idai which hit the region in March 2019,

Tropical Cyclone Idai killed more than 250 people and injured thousands others in Zimbabwe. Some of the people who disappeared during Idai haven’t been recovered to this day. This explains why the news of the coming of Chalane brings uncertainty in people’s lives.

Civil Protection Committee (CPC) in Chipinge which is chaired by Chipinge District Development Coordinator Mr William Mashava who is deputized by Zimbabwe Republic Police Dispol Chief Superintend Kennedy Nyaumwe met last Saturday to map the way forward.

The committee identified 57 evacuation centres in 30 rural and 8 urban administrative wards of the district. Chipinge rural has fifty-four evacuation centres and Chipinge urban has three centres. It has also set standby vehicles for emergency purposes.

Motivated by the Chipinge Civil Protection Committee’s vehicles preparations, a community development organisation named Kanyi Redu Development Association (KREDA) has started to mobilize funds to buy fuel for the emergency vehicles.

Kanyi Redu comprises of members who are synonymous to Chipinge by birth, residency or as descendants. KREDA has a commission which is responsible for Natural Disaster preparedness.

According to KREDA chairperson, Mr Sinoten Chibarirwa, Kreda supports the Civil Protection Committee efforts.

“In light of Tropical Cyclone Chalane, we are mobilizing fuel towards disaster preparedness and mitigation for each of our five constituencies through Members of Parliaments.

“We are happy that our members have since responded swiftly to the call for fuel donation. Out gesture is helping the district in a small way but building a working relationship with our district leadership,” said Chibarirwa.