Floods hit Chipinge

Sunday Mail Correspondent

Floods caused extensive damage to houses and swept away livestock on Christmas Day at Mwacheta Village in Chief Musikavanhu’s area in Chipinge.

Heavy downpours, which started on Christmas Eve and continued on Christmas, also flooded Nyamukungwa River.

Member of Parliament for Chipinge West, Mr Sibonile Nyamudeza, said he was liaising with the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) on the way forward.

“The rain may have subsided for now but I have already contacted the Civil Protection Unit to see how best we can help these families whose livelihoods have been destroyed. The most affected are the children and the elderly.”

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Services Department chief forecaster Mr James Ngoma yesterday said the department continues to monitor developments over the Indian Ocean.

“We are monitoring the situation regularly and we will give the latest update on Cyclone Chalane tomorrow (today),” he said.

AccuWeather – a worldwide weather forecaster – had projected the tropical cyclone would strike north-east Madagascar yesterday or today and possibly move towards Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Last week, President Mnangagwa said the CPU had been activated to manage any eventuality.

“We hear that a cyclone similar to Idai is building up in the ocean (Indian) and it can come here, so we are warning our people, especially in Manicaland, that is areas like Chipinge and Chimanimani and surrounding places.

“The cyclone can hit those areas next week (this week) so we are putting our CPU teams on alert so that if it happens, we will be ready and we can move our people to higher ground,” said the President.

Cyclone Idai killed thousands of people and left over 600 locals unaccounted for.

It destroyed critical infrastructure such as schools, clinics, roads and bridges.

CPU director Mr Nathan Nkomo said: “We are prepared. Remember, before we develop a contingency plan, it requires funding and this funding was approved by Cabinet in November.”