Chronicle EditorThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Torrential rains that have been pounding parts of Zimbabwe since last Friday have left a trail of destruction here, destroying schools, homes and roads. Beitbridge district Civil Protection Unit chairperson Mrs Kiliboni Ndou-Mbedzi yesterday said 17 houses and two primary schools had been affected. She said the rains had also destroyed major roads, leaving most of them inaccessible.
“We have sent out a team to assess the extent of the damage in most areas across the district,” said Mrs Ndou-Mbedzi.
She said they had so far received reports of properties destroyed in Wards 2, 5 and 11, but no deaths had been reported.
“The worst affected people are those in Malusungane area in Ward 11, where 13 houses were destroyed by the heavy rains accompanied by winds. The houses had their rooftops blown off, while others were reduced to debris. In Ward 5, Tshapfuche area, a total of four homesteads had their rooftops blown away,” said Mrs Ndou-Mbedzi.
Mrs Ndou-Mbedzi said Chabeta and Dumba primary schools had classroom roofs blown off by the heavy rains. She said the 113-kilometre Lutumba-Tshikwalakwala Road was also rendered inacces- sible.
“The road links Beitbridge with Chiredzi district and the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area,” said Mrs Ndou-Mbedzi. “It is also one of the biggest link roads which links Beitbridge East constituency and the town.”
She said people living near the Limpopo and Shashe rivers remained at high risk should the areas experience more rains.
Online Reporter