Online Reporter
Ray Bande and Luthando Mapepa
A dam breach at a Chipinge farm on Sunday resulted in the release of a large quantity of water downstream, killing four people, including minors.
Three other people are still missing while a number livestock has died.
Several irrigation pump houses were also destroyed.
A dam breach is the collapse or movement of part of a dam or its foundation, such that the dam cannot retain water. It results in the release of large quantities of water, posing risks to people, livestock or property downstream.
The Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza visited the area today to assess the damage caused and console the bereaved families.
“I am on the ground and I can confirm that four people have died. Three are still missing. The search continues, and we hope that we will be able to find the missing persons in time,” said Advocate Mugadza.
Civil Protection Unit chairman for Manicaland, Mr John Misi said some of the deceased are minors who were in the company of their mother who was doing laundry downstream, while the other was a man on a fishing expedition.
“The dam breach occurred at Bandama Farm, formerly known as Cantebury Farm. Although we are waiting for finer details, we are told that there was a female adult who was washing clothes downstream in the company of her two children. One of them – a four-year-old – was swept away and the body was latter retrieved,” he said.
“The other child who was with her mother, a 15-year-old, was swept away and was marooned on a piece of land, but was later rescued.
“The other person who died was a 30-year-old man who was on a fishing expedition,” said Mr Misi.
In a separate interview, Chipinge District Development Coordinator, Mr William Mashava, said a search is currently underway for the bodies of missing people, adding that some macadamia farmers were left counting their losses after their pump houses were destroyed.
“Several pump houses in Wards Seven and 10 which were installed closed to the river were destroyed by the floods,” said Mr Mashava.
Ward 10 Councillor Piason Sithole said the community, with the help of various stakeholders, is on the ground searching for a missing body.
He said some villagers lost their livestock.
