Online Reporter
Luthando Mapepa
Correspondent
A TOTAL of 18 villagers from Mahenye in Chipinge South remain marooned on Lisungwe Island, at the confluence of the Save and Runde rivers, after being trapped by rising floodwaters last week.
The group had been farming and fishing on the island when water levels surged, cutting off access to the mainland.
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with the Zimbabwe Republic Police Sub-Aqua Unit deployed to assist, though initial attempts to reach the stranded villagers were unsuccessful.
Manicaland Civil Protection Committee chairperson, Mr John Misi, confirmed that evacuation plans are underway.
He noted that this is not the first time villagers have been stranded on Lisungwe Island, underscoring the recurring danger posed by seasonal flooding.
“Efforts are currently being made to evacuate the 18 Mahenye villagers. The Zimbabwe Republic Police Sub-Aqua team was deployed, but failed to reach the island. We have since contacted Civil Protection headquarters in Harare to facilitate possible airlifting, as water levels in the Save and Runde rivers continue to rise, putting the villagers’ lives at risk. Stakeholders at both provincial and national levels are closely monitoring the situation,” said Mr Misi.
He added that although the stranded villagers have insisted they are safe, authorities remain concerned about the length of time they have been isolated and the potential risks posed by the worsening floods.
The Civil Protection Committee is now coordinating with national agencies to ensure the villagers are evacuated swiftly, as rising waters continue to threaten lives and livelihoods in flood-prone areas of Chipinge South.
Chipinge Rural District Ward 30 councillor, Councillor Liberty Chauke, explained that villagers often camp on Lisungwe Island during the summer season for farming and fishing.
“Awareness campaigns have been conducted to discourage Mahenye villagers from visiting Lisungwe Island during the rainy season, but they continue to go there because of its fertile soils and abundant fish. Many have turned to full-time farming on the island after abandoning their ancestral lands in Mahenye, where crops are frequently destroyed by wild animals.
“While on the island, they usually receive food supplies from family members using canoes. However, rising water levels have now made canoe access impossible, raising serious safety concerns for the 18 villagers trapped there,” said Councillor Chauke.
Meanwhile, Manicaland Meteorological Department provincial officer, Mr Tapiwa Maringo, warned that rains are expected to persist until the end of March.
“Wet conditions will continue across the province until the end of March, with heavier rains expected between March 18 and 20. We urge communities in flood-prone areas to remain on high alert,” he said.
