adminConrad Mupesa–Mashonaland West Bureau
Several houses and business premises were on Wednesday night destroyed by a hailstorm that swayed Chinhoyi, with roofs blown off, while property valued at thousands of dollars destroyed.
Heavy downpours and violent winds accompanied the storm that lasted for more than an hour.
Makonde district development coordinator, Mr Benjamin Zivanai, said although there were reports of a trail of destruction, including the warping of an electricity system of one household, no fatalities were recorded.
Several houses and shops, especially in one of Chinhoyi’s oldest suburbs Gadzema, had their roofs blown off.
Household property and groceries were destroyed by the rains that also uprooted some trees and wretched some billboards.
“It was a very violent storm. We never expected to experience such a disaster. Fortunately, we managed to recover the roofing sheets,” Mr Dereck Lameck, from Gadzema suburb, said. An elderly couple that was lucky to be alive said the destruction had left them vulnerable as they were failing to raise enough money to repair the damaged property.
Another victim, Ms Dadirai Chiparamazani, said she was now reconstructing the roof to her house.
Online Reporter