Chronicle Editor
Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
KWEKWE District has reactivated the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) as it prepares for the rain season which is associated with a number of disasters like flooding, mine collapse and hailstorms among others.
This comes as the Meteorological Services Department has predicted that the country will receive normal to above normal rainfall during the 2021/22 rainy season.
Last year, the rains caught all and sundry unawares after years of drought and low rainfall.
In this regard, Kwekwe has put its CPU on alert.
The chairperson of the committee who is also Kwekwe District Development Co-ordinator, Mr Fortune Mpungu said they have come up with a number of precautionary measures and they have already started implementing some of them.
“We are now in the rainy season and the season is associated with so many rainfall disasters like flooding, collapsing of mines, drowning, road traffic accidents, lightning, hailstorms destruction of buildings among others. We therefore, have our CPU active so that we stay on high alert,” he said.
Mr Mpungu said three local authorities which fall under his purview, Kwekwe, Redcliff and Zibagwe RDC, have been urged to ensure that all storm water drains are cleared as a precautionary measure.
He said the CPU has started engaging the public through awareness campaigns and using social media channels as well as mainstream media to caution them on the dangers associated with rainfall.
“Some of the messages that we have been sending out include encouraging school authorities to advise students not to cross flooded rivers, motorists should desist from parking vehicles under big trees and miners should avoid going underground when it’s raining because they may be trapped underground once the mine collapses,” said Mr Mpungu.
All companies, schools, retail shops and miners are urged to immediately resuscitate their internal civil protection units and prepare for any emergencies so that they complement the efforts of the CPU.
He encouraged residents to quickly report all disaster related incidents as soon as they happen to ensure timeous emergency responses.
Mr Mpungu also reminded residents to adhere to Covid-19 regulations.
“While the Covid-19 third wave has subsided, the 4th wave may attack any time especially during the forthcoming festive season. Residents are therefore, strongly urged to ensure that they are all vaccinated.
Let us do so while there is less pressure once Zimbabweans from abroad start to arrive, the demand for vaccines may be high,” he said.
Online Reporter