Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Manicaland Bureau
Following the Bandama Farm dam collapse in Chipinge on Sunday and the confirmation that five people lost their lives in the tragedy, while two others are still missing, an eye witness has revealed how events unfolded on the fateful day.
A 70-year old farm security officer, Mr Samson Masirande: “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.”
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.
