George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
MORE than 6 700 households in Masvingo City and surrounding areas are set to benefit from Government-led relief efforts following a devastating hailstorm that affected more than 17 000 households on October 5.
The distribution of groceries and tents began yesterday, with more than 643 vulnerable families in Ward 7, Victoria Ranch suburb, receiving assistance as Government and its partners moved to ease the suffering of those affected.
The exercise marks the beginning of a wider relief programme to help families meet their immediate needs as they work to restore normalcy to their lives.
Priority is being given to vulnerable households, including those headed by children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
Each beneficiary is receiving a 50kg bag of maize-meal, rice, flour, cooking oil, soap and other basic commodities, together with a tent.
President Mnangagwa declared the tragedy a State of Disaster.
Last Thursday, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe, who chairs the Cabinet Committee on Environment, Emergency Preparedness, Disaster Prevention and Management, led a team of ministers and senior Government officials to Masvingo to spearhead a coordinated response.
Churches have also joined the relief effort, with Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries, led by Mr Walter Magaya, pledging to provide affected families with groceries, blankets, tents and materials to repair damaged homes.
Mr Magaya accompanied Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira to Mucheke Hall yesterday, where they met some of the families affected by the hailstorm.
Minister Chadzamira said the Government, under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, was committed to assisting families whose livelihoods had been disrupted by the disaster.
“Government and its partners have started visiting areas affected by the October 5 hailstorm, as promised this week by a team led by our Local Government and Public Works Minister, Daniel Garwe,” he said.
“We have begun distributing aid to vulnerable victims in Ward 7 of Masvingo Urban, where we have handed over food and tents to more than 643 families.
“We hope this will ease the plight of our people as they work to rebuild their lives.”
Minister Chadzamira said the Department of Civil Protection (DCP), working with development partners, including the Red Cross and Christian Care, was coordinating assistance to affected households.
He said the DCP and its partners would conduct an assessment of damaged property to establish the extent of the destruction and determine the assistance required to repair homes.
“This assessment will help determine the extent of the damage and pave the way for Government and its partners to assist in rebuilding damaged houses so that our people can return to normal life as quickly as possible,” he said.
“Today, here in Victoria Ranch, we have launched this programme to assist people affected by the hailstorm, with 643 vulnerable families set to receive groceries and tents.”
Minister Chadzamira thanked the Second Republic for responding to the disaster and commended Government and its partners for providing prompt assistance.
He said the intervention demonstrated the commitment to leaving no one and no place behind.
Speaking at the same occassion, Mr Magaya expressed sympathy with the people of Masvingo and pledged that his church and its local and international partners would work with the provincial leadership to assist affected families.
“We have been in Masvingo for two days, moving around to assess the extent of the damage caused by the hailstorm.
“Personally, I was very touched by what I saw,” he said.
“As PHD Ministries, together with our partners, we will engage the provincial leadership here in Masvingo for guidance on how to channel our assistance.”
Meanwhile, residents in Mucheke, Clipsham and Rujeko have started repairing their damaged homes.
Efforts to restore electricity were also continuing, with several areas remaining without power since the storm.
Government estimates that damage to electricity infrastructure exceeds US$300 000, while ZESA is working to restore supplies.
Power cuts, combined with damage to the Bushmead Waterworks plant on the shores of Lake Mutirikwi, have contributed to water shortages lasting nearly a week.
Masvingo City Council and its partners have deployed water bowsers to ease the shortages, while water-treatment tablets are being distributed to help prevent water-borne diseases.
Some residents have described the October 5 hailstorm as one of the worst disasters in living memory, citing the extensive damage to homes and infrastructure in Masvingo City and surrounding areas.
