At least 13 learners at Chitenje Secondary School in Karoi
were yesterday struck and injured by lightning as heavy rains wreak havoc in
different parts of the country.
Houses, livestock and property were destroyed in Chinhoyi. This
followed the death of one person in Binga on Tuesday and the extensive damage
to infrastructure in the area and in Chimanimani, where 181 homes were
destroyed, while two bridges were swept away.
The Department of Civil Protection Unit said it was on high
alert and will continue to work with relevant authorities, including the police,
Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), education officials, relief agencies and
traditional leaders to see how they can reduce the damage caused by floods and
heavy rains.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has forecasted
scattered afternoon and evening thundershowers to continue today in all
Mashonaland, Harare, Midlands and northern parts of Manicaland provinces, while
the rest of the country is expected to start experiencing a decline in rainfall
activity starting today.
There were widespread rains across the country on
Wednesday, with considerable amounts recorded at Mukandi (94 millimetres),
Sutsuku 92mm, Nyakomba 75mm, Chimhanda 67mm, Nyanga 62mm and Mutasa 56mm.
“Zimbabwe has been experiencing significant rains since February
6, and these rains persisted in most parts of the country,” said MSD yesterday.
“Heavy downpours greater than 100mmm in 24 hours were recorded at a number of
stations.
“The rainfall was not evenly distributed as some had
localised heavy downpours, while some areas could receive much less rainfall.
The significant reduction in rainfall activity is expected starting today with
southern areas, including Matabeleland North, Bulawayo metropolitan southern
areas of Midlands as well as Masvingo.
“The intensity of the rainfall is expected to decline as we
move into Saturday and Sunday.”
Department of Civil Protection director Mr Nathan Nkomo
yesterday urged people in Chimanimani, Manicaland, and Mashonaland Central to
be on high alert as the ground had reached saturation levels which will result
in floods.
He said in Binga, rescue operations were continuing.
“We are liaising with Petrotrade, the only company which is running a fuel station there to
ensure that supplies are in place to ensure mobility of rescue teams,” said Mr
Nkomo.
“We had a successful stakeholders meeting this afternoon
(yesterday) where it was agreed that focus on disaster preparedness activities
should not only be focused on Binga, but Manicaland and Mashonaland Central, as
the risk of flooding is high because heavy rains are still expected there until
Saturday.”
In Masvingo, hundreds of schoolchildren across the
province’s seven administrative districts have over the past few days failed to
attend lessons after failing to cross flooded rivers.
While provincial education director Mr Zedious Chitiga
could not give exact figures of affected schoolchildren, he said the
development was worrisome.
Mr Chitiga said they were still waiting for reports from
districts indicating the extent of the problem.
“We have noted with concern that pupils are foregoing
school as they fail to cross flooded rivers in most areas and it’s a sad
scenario,” he said.
Some of the flooded rivers blocking schoolchildren from
learning include Mutirikwi and Pokoteke in Masvingo District, Runde and
Chiredzi rivers in Chiredzi and Devure and Mungezi rivers in Gutu.
Masvingo District Civil Protection Unit chairman, Mr Roy
Hove said: “The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) is on high alert for tragedies
likely to emanate from the heavy rains and river flooding.
“The CPU will continue to work hand-in-glove with the
police, education officials and traditional leaders in this regard.”
Acting Masvingo provincial police spokesperson, Assistant
Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa urged parents to accompany their children to school
to prevent flood risks associated with crossing flooded rivers.
In Mashonaland Central, one person drowned in Mbire, while
several people in five villages in Muzarabani were displaced due to the rising
water levels in Hoya River.
The province has already activated its civil protection
committees. The CPU is on standby for evacuations in Mbire and
Muzarabani, which are the two flood prone areas that are now at risk.
Bindura District development coordinator Mr Richard
Chipfuva yesterday said a house was struck by lightning, while another
collapsed in Mbire.
“The incessant rains have caused dam levels to rise,
especially in low-lying areas of Mbire and Muzarabani,” he said.
“There is imminent threat to settlements downstream. A
village head in Mbire, Mr Kapembere, drowned while trying to cross Hunyani
River.
“One house was struck by lightning in Kanyemba and all properties
were lost. Seven members of the family were not injured.”
In the same area, a house collapsed leaving three family
members homeless.
Water levels in Hoya, Musengezi and Nzoubvunda rivers were
reported to be rising rapidly, affecting villages in Chadereka, while some
families have started moving to higher ground.
Areas like Kairezi, Chiwenga, Mutemapungu are now cut off
because there is no bridge that can connect them.
“In Chadereka, five homesteads were razed to the ground and
one man was injured when the house he was sleeping in collapsed,” said Mr
Chipfuva. “Livestock and a granary were swept away. Most of the crops in the
fields were destroyed.”
Civil protection
units in Mbire and Muzarabani have stocked non-food items and require
assistance with foodstuffs.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority latest dam
level update shows that the national dam level average has risen to 50,4
percent up from 49, 6 percent on February 6, 2020. Herald
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