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Roselyne Sachiti Features Editor
Cushioned behind vast sugarcane plantations, Arda Chingwizi in the Nuanetsi Ranch, is now a temporary home for over 8 000 people displaced by floods in the Tokwe Mukosi basin. The floods, which have tragically changed their lives, left a trail of destruction and most are still recovering from the trauma.
Many lessons have been learnt. For them the importance of social cohesion tops. They have to adapt to their new living arrangements and it is not easy.
Firstly, all have new neighbours and have to learn and tolerate each other and also manage disputes that may arise over issues like hygiene in the temporary toilets and water queues.
Secondly, they were used to private lives. Each family had their own homestead, kraal, toilets and for some borehole and kept their privacy easily shying away from the typical “neighbours from hell”.
But here, they are stripped of all privacy. They now all live as a big composite family made of people of different religious backgrounds, wealth and lifestyle, sharing the little available resources.
For some, it’s like a prison, the floods took their freedom. Some of the tents are inches from each other and clutter brought by some people covers the small spaces in between them.
Children, too, who were used to playing on their parents’ big yards do not know any boundaries and can easily stray into neighbours’ homes.
Parents constantly look over their shoulders to avoid unnecessary arguments.
Witchcraft
At Chingwizi, there are many strangers from different backgrounds.
The life they have been living for the past few weeks has been different.
Back in the villages, they would know who the witch or wizard was, the prostitute, the thief, the prophet, among others and take precautionary measures or avoid all contact where needed.
But in Chingwizi, everyone is treated with extreme caution. They still have to know each other well. Having been used to sleeping behind locked doors all their lives, the superstitious like Madzimai Lucia protects her family by sprinkling coarse salt around her tent each night.
“When we arrived, I put my faith in God and thought that even witches would sleep because they were pre-occupied with the challenges they are facing. For the first three days, I did not use the salt, I got my church, Mughodhi, to protect my family from evil spirits,” she says.
She reveals that all this was wrong — in a few days she could not sleep; evil lurked.
The woman claimed the goat she had killed to ease relish problems a day before had created problems for her.
“You never know with these food shortages, I suspect someone was jealous that I killed my goat for meat and wants to bewitch me. I now sprinkle the coarse salt every night for the safety of my kids,” she says.
Despite some blaming God for their predicament, the people of Chingwizi have not turned their back on the Creator and still believe in him.
People have started grouping in their churches. Some church followers are seen moving around looking for “lost” congregants while others are simply recruiting new ones.
Others seek permission to set up temporary prayer spots from Mwenezi District Administrator Mr Stanely Chamisa. About 10 Apostolic Church followers sang and prayed behind a tent on Saturday February 22.
They have demarcated their “shrine” — even small children who do not belong to that church now know it is holy and no playground.
In the meantime, as they wait to relocate, DA Chamisa says, there will be order at the camp as the people will be grouped in clusters according to the villages they came from.
Their village heads will continue leading them. He says it will be hard for them to adjust and that is natural for people.
Even resisting relocation from areas they have been used to staying is also natural, he says.
At Chingwizi, he adds, even those with tents under a live electricity line are already refusing to relocate to a safer spot days after they started staying there.
For the mischievous lot, condoms are easily available at Chingwizi. A placard on a tree directing people where to get condoms is visible.
However, those who go to collect the condoms do so unnoticed.
But, even if condoms are collected, DA Chamisa projects that there might be an increase in pregnancies between married couples. After looking for water, food and other necessities, couples who do not have much to do may spend more quality time together.
“Already, there are many pregnant women here. Maybe others are falling pregnant now. We have a situation where people are gathered in one place with nothing to do, they may end up falling pregnant,” he said.
Government has deployed more than 20 teams to peg and demarcate nearly 60 000 hectares at Nuanetsi ranch into permanent plots for families.
The pegging is expected to be complete by April this year after which construction of permanent homes for the 2 500 Tokwe-Mukosi families is expected to start.
Minister of Lands and Rural Resettlement Dr Douglas Mombeshora revealed that there will be over 16 000 people in the camp when all families are relocated so they want to move with speed to develop their permanent plots for them.
Business
Indeed one man’s misfortune is another man’s fortune.
People like Thulani Hoto of Triangle have seen the flood victims’ misfortune as a business opportunity.
Everyday, he and other vendors, leave their homes in Musho area and spend the day selling various wares to the flood victims.
They also batter trade with those who do not have money.
He says they are simply helping each other. Hoto sells both adult and kids clothing. He has realised that there are many pregnant women here and also sells baby clothes that include hats, vests and nappies to the flood victims.
Many pregnant women at the holding camp lost clothes they had bought in preparation for their new arrivals.
They have to start all over again and those who have money buy. For now, others have to do with what they have.
Hoto is a “moving shop” catering for every need and even advertises skin lightening creams to the women at the camp.
Business is brisk.
Hoto has to fill in the gap since there are no shops close by.
“They are now our neighbours and we were worried because of the tragedy that befell them. We visited to see how they were doing and during our conversations gathered that the toilets are dirty and they feared their small children might contract diseases since their shoes were taken by the river. I saw a business opportunity to sell slippers and sandals,” Hoto says.
He has also taken advantage of some of the flood victims’ desperation for cash and buys goats from them for as low as US$15.
He, however, alleges some of the flood victims are stealing from them.
“Just yesterday, another vendor Mai Handsome lost seven pairs of sandals and a cellphone after some flood victims attacked her.
“We know they are desperate but they should at least live in harmony with us.
“Government should also fulfill its election promises and resettle them immediately,” he adds.
Other vendors sell commodities like flour, matches and sugar.
Soft drinks and Mazoe Orange crush targeted for NGO and Government workers are also sold by those seeking to make a quick buck.
Crates of opaque beer, popularly known as scuds, were outside one of the tents, the owner waiting for transport to go and top up supplies. A few crates were ready for sale, but sales very low. No one seemed to be in the mood to guzzle, or had the money. The floods dampened their spirits.
Business is also brisk for barbers who have set up temporary shop at the camp.
A battery and solar powered scissors is used and clients patiently wait for their turn.
It is just one of the many other things they do.
Around the camp, most recharge their solar panels they use to power their radios and lights at night.
Women like Somuna Gwarimba of Chehuku School says when the floods hit, one of the things she made sure was safe was her solar panel.
“I held on to it like I was holding my baby. I did not want it damaged,” she says.
Apart from their problems, the people of Chingwizi also find solace in entertainment.
Large speakers brought by well wishers played gospel music and drew a large crowd. Small children danced, the adults attempted to, dogs stood there, their tongues out.
As dark falls in Chingwizi, villagers wait for the day government will finally lead them to the Promised Land.
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