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Several people are feared dead after Bandama Dam in Chipinge collapsed on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction downstream.
?: ZBC
Two die as a Chipinge dam bursts
The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has said two people died after the Bandama Farm Dam in Chipinge collapsed on Sunday.
Three other people were injured, while one person was marooned.
The bodies of a four-year-old girl and a 30-year-old man were recovered following a search and rescue mission.
According to eyewitnesses, the dam breach occurred suddenly, catching residents off guard.
In a statement, the CPU said the resulting floodwaters swept away several people, including children who were doing laundry or fishing in the nearby river.
“A four-year old girl, Agnes Mupazi, was with her mother doing laundry,” reads the statement. “She is said to have been found dead following the search mission. Her mother managed to escape.
“Seven-year-old Grace Mlambo was also with her mother doing laundry. She was swept away downstream and was pushed to the riverbank. Fortunately, she was rescued and rushed to the hospital.”
The CPU also confirmed the death of a 30-year-old man who is believed to have been fishing at the time of the incident.
“A 30-year old man, Tapiwa Mtisi, was also swept away. His body was deposited along the riverbank. It is believed that he was fishing when disaster struck.”
The Unit also said a 13-year old boy, Vice Maposa, was marooned when Budzi River suddenly flooded.
The boy was also reportedly fishing when the incident occurred, and fortunately, he was rescued by the community.
Another 13-year old boy was swept away by the raging river before he was pushed off by a current.
According to the CPU, the boy is currently admitted at Chipinge District Hospital and is in stable condition.
Our crew is following this story and we will be updating you as new details emerge.
Death toll rises to four
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 several 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.
In a separate interview, Chipinge District Development Coordinator, Mr William Mashava, said a search is currently underway for the bodies of missing people.
Farmers count their losses
Mr William Mashava said 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.
He said some villagers lost their livestock.
Sombre atmosphere as death toll rises to five
A sombre atmosphere is engulfing the Chivhunze Village in Chipinge where five people have now been confirmed dead.
Two others are still missing.
The tragedy is on every villager’s lips and thus locating the Bandama Farm dam and bereaved families was not a big hustle.
Government visits site
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Deputy Minister Vangelis Haritatos and his Local Government, Public Works and National Housing counterpart, Engineer Benjamin Kabikira are leading a delegation that has visited the area to assess the damages caused by the dam water.
They are also mapping out modalities for Government intervention and consoling bereaved families.
Locals’ lives disrupted
The two Deputy Ministers toured the Bandama Farm dam as well as the site where a bridge was swept away across the Dandoni River.
Most Chivhunze Primary pupils did not attend school yesterday and today as the bridge was their gateway to the learning institution.
Farm labourers in surrounding communities have also not been able to report for duty.
This is the site where the bridge was swept away.
Eye witness account: The flooding came in gradually
A 70-year old farm security officer, Mr Samson Masirande who witnessed the tragedy from the start said: “On Sunday morning at around 8am I noticed some water flowing along the Dandoni River. The quantities were nothing to worry about and l wondered why the water was so dirty.
“I thought some youngsters were playing upstream. I went upstream to find out why the water was that dirty but found nothing.
“At around midday, the water had increased to knee level and it later reached waist level. I then went to find out upstream again. This is when l started hearing a loud sound like that of a helicopter.
“That is when I tried chasing away some children that were playing along the stream but instead of listening to my warnings, they scolded me.
“When the powerful wave came, it came with uprooted trees and logs. By that time the dam had cracked and we could only watch helplessly as the water was sweeping away everything on its way.”
Village head mourns community members
Manyaya village head Mr Tobias Sithole, in whose area people were swept away, said his community has been plunged into mourning.
“We have never witnessed something like this before. It is so painful. This is a disaster.
“By the time I was called and started alerting people that they should be careful, the water was already out of control,” he said.
Two children still missing
The search for two children who went missing when the dam collapsed on Sunday continues, even though continued rainfall is complicating the task.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator Mr William Mashava said Government departments are searching for eight-year-old Grace Mlambo and four-year-old Juliet Mhlanga.
“We are still searching for the two missing children. Continued rainfall being experienced here is complicating the task, but relevant Government departments have joined hands with locals in the search. We have not lost hope of finding their bodies,” said Mr Mashava.
Mr Mashava said modalities for the movement of people to higher ground are being worked out as advised by Deputy Ministers that visited the area on Tuesday, given that the dam structures have weakened.
Seven victims laid to rest
All the seven people who died following the Chipinge farm dam breach have been laid to rest after the other two missing bodies were finally located, District Development Coordinator for the area, Mr William Mashava has said.
Mr Mashava said: “The search was not easy given the rains that were being received in the area. However, we finally recovered the bodies.
“All the bodies have now been laid to rest. We are very thankful to all the parties that worked tirelessly to ensure that the bodies were successfully retrieved,” said Mr Mashava.
Mr Mashava said modalities to move the people who are living downstream of the other dams that are showing signs of weakness are being worked out.
“We are taking heed of the proposal for the need to move people living downstream of the other dams that are showing signs of getting weaker to higher ground in order to avert possible disaster in the event of another dam breach. The modalities are still being worked out,” said Mr Mashava.
The victims are Agnes Muchadeyi (4), Blessing Maone (10), Tapiwa Mtisi (13), Forgiveness Maphosa (10), Zembilo Dube (4), Grace Mlambo (8) and Julias Mlambo (4).
