Sundaymail Editor
Sunday Mail Reporter
OVER 282 houses and buildings were damaged by heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Ana, which affected Manicaland and all Mashonaland provinces last week.
No deaths were recorded in Zimbabwe.
The storm, which has since dissipated, barrelled through Southern Africa, leading to over 80 deaths in Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar.
The Department of Civil Protection director, Mr Nathan Nkomo, said the tropical storm had caused damage to four provinces — Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West.
“The latest update shows that the storm directly affected all Mashonaland provinces and Manicaland . . . There are over 282 houses and buildings that were damaged,” he said.
“Most of the 13 districts affected include Chipinge, Chimanimani, Mutare, Mutasa, Nyanga, Mudzi, UMP, Rushinga, Mt Darwin, Centenary, Mbire, northern Hurungwe and Kariba.
“Ten people were marooned in Mukumbura River on January 26, 2022 while they were attempting to cross the flooded river. They were successfully rescued by Mozambican nationals.”
Mr Nkomo expressed gratitude to the United Nations and other organisations that have partnered the Government to assist affected victims.
“The Government has prepositioned fuel to districts for assessments and response activities, provided 50 tents to families and 300 refugee housing at Tongogara refugee camp to accommodate affected people in Mbire. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is clearing the roads and attending to damaged infrastructure.
“We are really grateful to our partners who have been assisting us on the ground. UNICEF conducted assessments in Nyanga, Mutasa and Chimanimani, and OXFAM have stockpiled non-food items in Chipinge and Mount Selinda.”
In a statement on Friday, the Metrological Services Department revealed that the tropical storm has now gone as “the remnants of tropical depression Ana exited the country through the north-western parts of the country”.
Online Reporter