Hailstorm shakes Gresham Primary

GRESHAM Primary School in Zvishavane was hit by a devastating hailstorm on Wednesday, which blew off classroom roofs and uprooted trees, leaving 159 pupils stranded.

The hailstorm, which struck in the afternoon caused extensive damage to the school property, including textbooks, exercise books and furniture.

The school head, Chrispen Moyo said fortunately no one at the school was injured despite the fact that the violent storm uprooted trees and blew off roofs.

He said the school had submitted its report to the authorities and was awaiting assistance from the District Civil Protection Unit (CPU).

“There was a hailstorm on Wednesday afternoon that left a trail of destruction at our school as our classroom roofs were blown away. Huge trees in the vicinity of the school were also uprooted.

We have so far submitted our report to the authorities and I can safely say no one was injured,” said Moyo.

The Zvishavane District Development Co-ordinator, Darlington Chokera, said they were on the ground assessing the extent of the damage together with the CPU.

He said this was an emergency case, which they were attending to as the school requires urgent assistance.

“Yes, a hailstorm destroyed three classrooms at Gresham Primary School and we are on the ground to assess the extent of the damage. We want to find out how best we can assist the school with the help of the CPU,” said Chokera.