adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
Homes of at least 200 villagers and three schools in Gomana area, Chivi District are at risk of being swept away by water as they are very close to Tokwe Mukosi Dam, which has started spilling.Government relocated more than 500 families to Nuanetsi Ranch along Ngundu-Triangle and Chingwiza in Mwenezi but the 200 villagers resisted the move despite the risk of having their homes washed away.
Those who remained at the basin claim that there were no educational facilities at the new settlements. Zunga A and B primary schools, which are within the basin, risk being destroyed by floods.
A visit by Chronicle to Zunga village on Tuesday showed that dams in the area are already spilling. A male teacher at Zunga primary the school, who requested anonymity, said a homestead near the school was nearly washed away.
“One of the houses at the homestead was flooded and our school is not safe as it is located near this dam which is already full,” he said.
Another villager, Grace Tafuma said: “Neruvanga Secondary is at risk of flooding and government might be forced to relocate the school.”
Chivi district administrator, Bernard Hadzirabwi however allayed fears saying the remaining schools were safe.
“The schools and a village you are referring to are safe because most of the areas are on high ground and therefore they are not at risk. Even if we continue receiving rains those areas will not be in danger,” said Hadzirabwi.
He said government has completed resettling more than 520 families in affected areas that include Chingwiza in Mwenezi and Masangula.
“We have resettled families from Jawa and Sifunzi Villages. As I speak we are in the process of relocating more villagers and to date all those on low lying areas have since been relocated to higher ground,” he said
Sidumisile Mabena