Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba-Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Government has released ZiG2,4 million to support flood victims in Midlands Province following heavy downpours that left 20 people marooned and infrastructure severely damaged.
The support comes as the Government has deployed engineers, activated search and rescue teams to make sure that there is no loss of life and that the affected are assisted as a matter of urgency.
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube said this at a press conference held at the Government Complex on Thursday.
“As part of contingency planning, the Midlands Province applauds the Second Republic under the able and visionary leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa, for disbursing a total of ZiG2,4 million to the Midlands Province to enable quick response and provision of basic emergency consumables to flood victims,” he said.
Minister Ncube said following heavy downpours received during the first half of March 2026, devastating impacts on infrastructure, loss of life, property and livelihoods were reported across the entire province, with the most affected being Mberengwa, Gweru and Gokwe North.
“Regrettably, 20 people were marooned with a total of 19 people moved to safety with the assistance of the search and rescue sub-committee, the Sub Aqua Unit and the Air Force of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Minister Ncube said Mtshingwe River along the Mberengwa–Zvishavane border accounted for 16, Gweru River two, while Munyati River in Gokwe South recorded one rescue, and the other is still missing.
He commended President Mnangagwa for declaring the roads a state of national disaster.
The minister also commended the swift and timely response by the Provincial Joint Operations Command as aggravated disasters were averted through the deployment of the rescue aircraft to assist the marooned to safety.
“Mberengwa is the hardest hit, with the other half of the district now extremely difficult to access. A total of 24 bridges, namely Jeka, Gunguwe, Ume, Nyororo, Silobela, Camelot, Vungu, Mavise, were swept away whilst four dams were reported breached, among them Rimbe in Gokwe North and Masafari in Gweru, among others,” he said.
Minister Ncube said engineers from the Ministry of Transport, Zimbabwe National Army and councils are on the ground to assess the damaged road and dam infrastructure to enable the provision of necessary support.
“Moving forward, as we are still in the rainy season, I urge communities in the Midlands Province to desist from crossing flooded rivers on foot, by riding or while driving. In addition, I implore all community leaders to spearhead disaster risk reduction awareness campaigns in areas under their jurisdiction,” he said.
Minister Ncube urged members of the public to be proactive in reporting to their respective community leaders, Zimbabwe Republic Police and DDCs any occurrence of disasters as quickly as possible.
