Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu and Raymond Jaravaza
HEAVY rains that pounded Matabeleland South Province left a trail of destruction after a water pumping facility was damaged in Gwanda while several villages in Bulilima were cut off from health services, educational institutions and shopping centres.
Gwanda District was severely affected by the rains with key infrastructure being damaged by floods after a dam burst its banks leading to a disruption of major services among them supply of water to the mining town.
The flooding, which was experienced over the weekend disrupted water supply in the town as the Gwanda Municipality water pumping house was flooded resulting in some equipment being damaged.
A cottage near the water pumping houses was also affected by flooding and the family lost their valuables.
Huge amounts of water also flooded Mtshabezi River Bridge making it difficult for motorists and pedestrians to cross for over 24 hours. The bridge links Gwanda town to Blanket Mine, Maphisa District and several business centres. The heavy tide also destroyed the low-hanging makeshift bridge and the second makeshift bridge near the prison camp at Hamden plot, leaving many stranded.
Learners that use the route did not attend school yesterday while workers failed to report for duty.
People could not access major services in the town. While yesterday morning the water levels had subsided trees that had been uprooted along the way were blocking the bridge. The bridge was cleared yesterday afternoon allowing motorists and pedestrians passage.
Matabeleland South Provincial Civil Protection Committee chairperson, Mr Zachariah Jusah, said an assessment is being conducted to ascertain the extent of damage. He said no fatalities or injuries related to the flooding have been recorded. He said the Gwanda Municipality is working on modalities to repair damaged equipment and resume pumping of water.
The Gwanda District Civil Protection Committee has converged to address the water crisis.
“Investigations have shown that flooding was predominantly caused by a breach of Insindi Dam which is located in a private farm in Gwanda,” said Mr Jusah.
“A 80 metre wall of the 5 000 mega litre dam collapsed due to poor workmanship, which was done after the dam collapsed in 2017.
“The District Civil Protection Committee is assessing and costing the damage downstream. The Mtshabezi High School Dam also breached due to heavy rains but the major source of flooding is Insindi Dam as the school dam is small. The water flowed downstream towards Mtshabezi River.
“The water exceeded its normal flooding level. Insindi Dam is in a private farm and it’s not registered, which meant that it was not being assessed by Zinwa,” he said.
Mr Jusah urged owners of farms to register their private dams under Zinwa so that they can be continuously assessed and recorded. He said all repairs and maintenance of dams should be conducted by Zinwa.
Mr Jusah said that as the rains continue to fall, the Civil Protection Unit structures across all levels in the province remain on high alert and communities are being sensitised on how to remain safe.
He said that when faced with flooding, people must prioritise their safety.
Gwanda District Civil Protection Committee focal person, Mr Awakhiwe Moyo, said they are compiling a comprehensive report, which will be informed by reports from each department.
“The flooding incident affected a number of institutions and infrastructure in the district and we are working on consolidating this information. We have instructed each department to send a report as we want to know the damage in each sector,” he said.
“In Bulilima, several villages have been cut off from essential health and education services following the heavy rains. The downpours destroyed a vital crossing area that connects Ntunungwe, Zovumba, Makuta and Masekela villages to a local clinic, a primary school and shops. To access Ntunungwe Primary School, learners are now being forced to walk several additional kilometres to cross a stable bridge that has so far withstood the destructive rains.
Before the villages were cut off from the essential services, a local villagers committee last year wrote to the Bulilima RDC requesting the construction of a bridge in the area.
The request was turned down by council, citing financial challenges.
Council, however, offered technical expertise to the villagers in the event they mobilised enough money to fund the construction of a bridge.
“The Bulilima Rural District Council (RDC) received a motion on 15 July 2025 for the request by the community to build a bridge across Ntunungwe River. The reasons cited on the motion were that during the rainy season it becomes difficult to cross the river.
“Schoolchildren have difficulty in crossing the river and villagers cannot access basic services like the local clinic and shops during the rainy season,” responded the RDC in a letter in possession of Zimpapers.
A site visit was made by the RDC engineering department together with villagers’ committee members Mr Lucky Mloyi and Mrs Judith Maphosa.
“The site in question is a river crossing area that connects Zovumba village to Makuta, Masekela and Ntunungwe villages. It is also used by school children to access educational facilities,” said council.
“The community requested a causeway (bridge) and on assessment it was noted that the river and the access crossing area are at the same level, therefore the proposed relevant drainage structure for crossing will be a plain drift (slab).
“The community is hereby advised that the path is not part of the roads that were gazzetted; therefore, council will not be able to fund the construction of the causeway but can only offer technical expertise if the community wishes to mobilise resources.”
Villagers’ representative Mrs Maphosa yesterday told Zimpapers that the community has only mobilised just over US$100 and 30 bags of cement.
Council, however, put the cost of constructing a bridge at US$8 850.
“We have been cut off from schools, health facilities and the local business centre. Our children have to walk an extra eight kilometres or more to get to Ntunungwe Primary and getting to the clinic is a nightmare for the elderly,” said Mrs Maphosa.
Last Saturday, a Zimpapers news crew that was working on a separate article in Maweni village in Gwanda North constituency, was stranded for hours after heavy rains pounded the area and flooded a local bridge.
The team was forced to wait on the other side of the bridge for over five hours while patiently waiting for water levels to subside before crossing the bridge.
