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Walter Mswazie, Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO villagers who were left homeless by Cyclone Dineo-induced floods last month, are resisting relocation, an official said yesterday.
Scores of villagers in Shashe resettlement area in Mashava and Madyangove in Chivi were left homeless after Shashe and Musavezi Rivers burst their banks.
The flooding was as a result of spilling of Muzhwi Dam upstream.
Nine families had to be evacuated from Shashe by the police sub-aqua team after they were marooned along the river while the Air Force of Zimbabwe airlifted three other people in the area. Two families resisted evacuation for unknown reasons.
In an interview yesterday Masvingo provincial administrator Mr Fungai Mbetsa, who also chairs the provincial Civil Protection Unit (CPU) said the affected families refused to be relocated.
“We are not going to relocate anyone because the affected families refused despite the fact that their homes are in low lying areas. They said they do not want to leave their ancestors’ graves,” said Mr Mbetsa.
He, however, said the affected families have been provided with enough maize to last them three months.
Mr Mbetsa said Government had partnered with non-governmental organisations to assist the affected families.
He said one of the NGOs, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) donated tents and food.
Mr Mbetsa said the floods had also damaged roads in different parts of the province and as such some areas were now inaccessible.
Close to 300 girls at Lundi High School were marooned at their hostels for three days after the nearby Runde River spilled.
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