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George Maponga in MASVINGO
nearly 3 000 Tokwe-Mukosi residents who escaped floods in the dam’s basin recently were on Monday left ruing their bad fortune after their homes at Chingwizi Holding Camp in Mwenezi were destroyed by another deluge.
The rains destroyed tents and food but spared the main food holding centre as it was on higher ground.
Every family receives a monthly food allocation and blankets, among other items, upon arrival at the camp.
There are more than 1 700 families that are yet to receive tents and these spent Monday night being pounded by the heavy rains while trying to shelter under trees and in shacks.
There are growing fears of disease outbreaks as the floods also swept away temporary toilets.
Government yesterday said it had deployed five teams, including health and sanitation officers, to assess the situation.
Chairperson of the Tokwe-Mukosi relocation co-ordinating committee and Masvingo provincial administrator Mr Felix Chikovo said he was yet to get details on the full extent of the fresh crisis.
He, however, said the main food holding centre had been spared as it was on high ground.
Mwenezi district administrator Mr Stanley Chamisa said there was total disaster at the camp as some families spent the whole day and night in the open.
“We now have a population of 3 242 families at Chingwizi and only 1 600 have tents,” he said. “When heavy rains fell on Monday nearly 1 700 were in the open because we could not shelter them after running out of tents last week.
“Even those with the tents were not spared the damage as most of the tents were also damaged by the floods, leaving them without their food rations and I do not know what is going to happen to them.”
The Tokwe-Mukosi relocation co-ordinating committee has already appealed for more food to feed families who are going to need assistance for the next 12 months.
An appeal for an additional 20 000 tents has also been made to temporarily shelter everyone.
At least US$120 000 is needed to buy metal sheets, polythene and poles.
Mr Felix Chikovo said: “We have already submitted a budget of US$120 000 to Government through the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing for money to buy metal roofing sheets, poles and polythene to build temporary homes for families who do not have tents and are staying in the open.
“There is a shortage of tents right now and the only alternative that we have at the moment is to use metal sheets and polythene.”
Mr Chikovo said the Japanese government handed over 100 tents, 3 500 blankets and 500 tarpaulin tents.
The International Organisation for Migration will hand over 2 000 tents on March 15.
Mr Chikovo added that pegging of permanent plots for families was underway. An average of 500 plots are being pegged daily and immediately allocated to families.
Online Reporter