adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
FLOOD victims in Bulilima and Mangwe districts have started receiving food items which were donated by wellwishers, more than a month after the disaster struck.This comes after the Civil Protection Unit from the two districts appealed for assistance for the affected families.
Senior Minister of State, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo recently donated mealie-meal, cooking oil, rice, jam and other food stuffs to the two districts. The Civil Protection Unit organised tents and money for the beneficiaries.
An official in the Mangwe Civil Protection Unit said the two districts were facing challenges in transporting the donated items.
“The two districts are facing challenges in getting transport to get the donations to the people. The donations came but they remained stored for more than a week because of transport challenges.
“At the moment they are being distributed in small batches because of this challenge. The first distribution was made on Thursday last week,” said the official.
Several homes in the two districts collapsed due to persistent rains leaving families stranded with Bulilima District being the worst affected.
Bulilima District Administrator Ethel Moyo said a conclusive list of affected families in her district had not been compiled.
“At the time the Civil Protection Unit committee carried out an assessment of affected areas they could not reach all villages as some were not accessible. We are working together with the leadership of communities to make sure that all affected people are reached,” she said.
Affected villages in Bulilima include Ndolwane, Mbimba, Huwana, Khame and Madlambuzi.
Five families in the district which had their homesteads completely submerged in water recently received tents which were donated by a local businessman.
An assessment visit by the Civil Protection Unit for Bulilima revealed that Dzilo Village in Ndolwane area and Mbimba area were the worst affected.
Dzilo Village which is situated close to Manzamnyama River which borders Tsholotsho area was affected after the river burst its banks.
In Mangwe District the worst affected areas were Brunapeg and Ingwizi area. Among the affected was an 80-year-old woman who was hospitalised after a hut collapsed on her.
The two districts also received non-food items which comprised blankets, soap and clothing.
Online Reporter