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Chronicle Reporter
RESIDENTS have been left counting the costs once again as floods continue to wreak havoc in Bulawayo with scores of security walls around houses, destroyed yesterday. Heavy rains pounded the city for almost 10 hours flooding homes across the city.On Friday, torrential rains flooded houses in Nkulumane 12 and damaged residents’ property worth thousands of dollars.
The rains washed three cars off bridges at Khami.
However, the passengers escaped uninjured.
Yesterday the White City Stadium in Njube suburb was turned into a giant swimming pool as water filled the pitch. In Selbourne Park, scores of houses had their security walls destroyed.
At a house along Inkubu Road, a neighbour’s security wall collapsed onto a vehicle next door and damaged it.
The owner of the vehicle Tekla Mahlangu, 56, said she would claim compensation from council.
“I am not amused. The problem here is a poor drainage system that council is aware of. I will definitely claim compensation from the Bulawayo City Council. The problem is that I do not know how to go about the issue. The falling wall also crashed against my security wall and destroyed part of the wall,” said Mahlangu.
Many residents in the suburb had put furniture outside to dry. One of the neighbours who declined to be named showed the news crew marks on his sofas that showed they had been half submerged in water.
In Mahatshula, a portion of the wall surrounding Eastview High School collapsed under the weight of water. “As you can see, the wall is next to Umguza River. The river was flooded and the water found its way into the wall. It filled up the almost two metre high wall. At about 7 AM, the wall collapsed under the weight of the water and flooded the road,” said John Mbano, 61.
On the other side of the river, Sheperd Ntini, 56, was also counting his loses. “The level of the water kept rising and at about 7 AM, the water suddenly came rushing towards the house. My car parked there, was half submerged in the water. It entered the house and has caused a lot of damage. It entered into electrical circuits on the wall and we have not turned electricity on, since then,” said Ntini.
He said the last time the river was flooded like that was in 1980.
Cowdray Park residents said the earth shook and windows rattled as the rain fell relentlessly during the night. “I have never experienced such a storm. It felt like the house was going to coming crashing down on us. Water was flowing through the house and we spent the night on our feet. Most houses in the suburb were flooded,” said Richard Ncube, 32, who called Chronicle.
The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) deputy national director, Sibusisiwe Ndlovu, yesterday said she was yet to receive flood reports from around the country.
Police spokesperson for Bulawayo Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo warned residents against speeding saying the roads were slippery.
“To avoid loss of lives, let us all keep within the speed limits and observe safe trailing distances as the roads are slippery as a result of the rains. Residents should not take risks and attempt to cross flooded rivers,” said Insp Moyo.
Online Reporter