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A STRONG hailstorm swept across Makoni District, rupturing the roofs of 90 homesteads and a council school in the process.
No one was injured in the unpredicted climatic occurrence.
The affected families were from Ward 24, Masvosva, Makoni West, while at least $25 000 is needed to repair the damage inflicted on Chin’ono Primary School (Chimbike Village) in Makoni South, where six classroom blocks had their roofs blown off by the strong winds.
Makoni Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Edward Pise confirmed the incidents and described the situation as “dire and warranting immediate external interventions”.
“The district experienced strong winds which left a trail of destruction in its wake. Six classroom blocks had their roofs ruptured at Chin’ono Primary School in Makoni South, and at least $25 000 is needed to repair the school.
“The situation is dire because it comes a week after schools open. We are appealing for financial and material assistance so that we swiftly address this problem,” explained Mr Pise.
Mr Pise said Chin’ono Primary School, which was built in the late 50s, has an enrolment of around 450 pupils.
“Our major worry is that schools are opening next week and we cannot afford to disadvantage these children, hence this appeal to our partners to pool financial and material resources for the sake of these rural children,” added Mr Pise.
Makoni South constituency is under the ambit of Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Mandi Chimene.
Member of House of Assembly for Makoni West Cde Kudzi Chipanga said the 90 victims from his constituency were in a torrid situation.
He said some of the houses were reduced to heaps of rubble.
The villagers complained of starvation after their stored grain was destroyed and washed away by the disastrous hailstorm.
The villagers, apart from food, also appealed for blankets and make shift tents.
Cde Chipanga said: “We least expected a disaster of that magnitude. Altogether 90 homesteads were affected, and we are appealing to our partners to come on board, assess the situation, and see how best we can jointly assist these families.”
A similar incident recently happened in Buhera South where 119 villagers had their homesteads and household valuables destroyed by a hailstorm that swept across the constituency.
NGOs Goal Zimbabwe, Red Cross Society of Zimbabwe and International Organisation for Migration (IOM) came up with different forms of assistance for the victims.
Goal Zimbabwe gave each of the 50 victims, whose plight had been deemed severe by a local taskforce, $80 cash which was meant for food and repair of the damaged infrastructure.
IOM provided makeshift tents for the victims while Red Cross chipped in with 16 blankets and kitchen utensils for the relief of the victims.
Online Reporter