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George Maponga in Masvingo
Masvingo City Council has identified alternative land to relocate 23 families in Runyararo West suburb who have been at the mercy of flash floods over the past three years after they were allocated residential stands close to the confluence of two small streams in the area.
Recently, the families had their homes flooded and some of their property destroyed following heavy rains that fell in the city igniting floods, a situation which experts say is being worsened by construction projects in the vast Victoria Ranch suburb which is the main catchment of the two streams and is reportedly poorly drained.
Council resolved to relocate the affected families to bring closure to the problem of floods with a delegation of city fathers that visited the area recently, agreeing with the Civil Protection Committee to also identify temporary shelter at the DDF Masvingo premises if more flooding ensues in the area because of more rains.
Town clerk Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa said council will give the 23 affected families, new stands in another area of Runyararo West that is not flood-prone.
”We have identified a place to temporarily shelter the 23 affected families in Runyararo West in the event more rains fall and worsen flooding and this is just an interim measure. As a permanent solution, we have identified land to relocate them and pegging of housing stands is already underway.
Government, through the Civil Protection Unit, will assist with funding for construction of the houses. As long as there are developments in Victoria Ranch, flooding will only worsen in that area (Runyararo West),” said Engineer Mukaratirwa.
Besides construction activities in Victoria Ranch suburb, climate change is also to blame for the floods that have made the lives of these Runyararo West residents miserable.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter