Online Reporter
Precious Manomano
Herald Reporter
As heavy rains continue to pound various parts of the country, 134 people have been killed since the onset of the season, the latest report from the Department of Civil Protection shows.
“The rising levels in water bodies and flooding of rivers have prompted cases of marooning, people being swept away, huts collapsing, and communities cut off from essential services,” reads the report.
The downpours, which resumed this month, have led to 56 incidents of marooning, damaged 237 schools, and significantly affected at least 1 500 households.
Infrastructure has also suffered severe losses, exacerbating the crisis faced by communities.
Traffic was disrupted for nearly an hour at the Shangani Bridge along the Gweru-Bulawayo Highway on Sunday afternoon after the bridge was flooded.
Gweru District Development Coordinator, Mr Tarisai Mudadigwa confirmed that for the first time in history, the Shangani Bridge flooded. He said the area, which borders the Midlands Province, recorded over 170 mm in nine hours.
Primary school learners who had gone on a weekend trip to a wildlife sanctuary near Shangani had to extend their stay by a day as vehicles could not pass flooded streams.
ZINWA has issued a public advisory regarding dam spills and water releases at Tugwi-Mukosi, Mutirikwi and Manjirenji Dams.
On March 15 in Zvishavane District, 16 gold panners were marooned and successfully rescued in Muchingwe River.
In Chiredzi District, four men were rescued on March 13 after attempting to cross the flooded Runde River.
On March 9, twin siblings who were ECD learners at Utete Primary School in Muzarabani drowned while attempting to cross a flooded stream on their way home on March 9.
In Zaka, a decomposing body of a male adult was discovered on March 13. This came after two men were swept away in Mutirikwi River.
A 10-year-old girl died in Masvingo District when a hut collapsed due to heavy rains.
On March 16, two men were swept away by Munyati River in Gokwe as they attempted to cross in a makeshift boat. One of them was rescued, but the other remains missing.
In response to the challenges, the Government has activated civil protection structures at national, provincial, district, ward and village levels.
Key interventions include the dissemination of information by the Department of Civil Protection and the Meteorological Services Department. Public awareness campaigns are also being conducted, particularly regarding crossing flooded rivers.
This has proved invaluable in alerting communities to looming hydro-meteorological hazards.
The Government has also disbursed funds for disaster response, enabling swift actions in critical situations. Humanitarian assistance, including food and non-food items, has been mobilised and distributed to households affected by the disasters.
In addition, 50 tonnes of grain have been prepositioned for disaster response in each district, providing crucial support to stranded families.
Civil protection organisations have been capacitated with resources such as motorised boats, facilitating effective search and rescue operations.
