malvernmugadzikwa
Nokuthula Dube
ADVERSE weather conditions have claimed 24 lives and damaged property and infrastructure valued at over US$150 000 since the beginning of the rainy season.
Among the victims was a 12-year-old girl from Mutasa district who was swept away while attempting to cross a flooded river on her way home from school.
A three-year-old boy from the same area drowned in a four-metre-deep pool.
According to the Department of Civil Protection’s latest situation report, six people sustained injuries while 893 households have been damaged.
In addition, 129 schools and 13 clinics across the country also suffered varying degrees of damage.
In response, the Government has activated all civil protection structures to promptly address these incidents.
In the Midlands province, property worth US$6 475 was damaged at Masase High School as strong winds ripped off roofs of classrooms and teachers’ houses.
In Kwekwe, six houses and three schools were affected, while two miners were trapped underground.
One escaped with injuries while the other lost his life.
In Masvingo province, a lightning-induced fire destroyed a home in Ruhanya village, Bikita district, leaving the family with nothing, including identity documents for seven family members.
Meanwhile, in Mashonaland East’s Mudzi district, artisanal miners were stranded between Mutawatawa and Nyamapanda along the Mazowe River.
The Department of Civil Protection called in the Sub Aqua Unit for rescue operations.
Heavy rainfall in Matabeleland North, particularly around the Makomo Mine within Hwange National Park, triggered flash floods, affecting eight homesteads.
The report also highlighted significant infrastructure damage in the area, including an overflowing bridge linking Ward 12 Nekabandama and Change near the Diki Irrigation Scheme, which has hindered access for motorists and pedestrians.
The Kalope Dam is also overflowing, posing a severe risk to downstream communities.
Furthermore, a tarred road in the area is showing signs of damage, with continued rainfall threatening to worsen the situation.
Fields in the village remain waterlogged, adding to the challenges faced by local communities.
The Hwange District Civil Protection Committee had previously recommended relocating the affected communities in 2016, offering support such as tents and non-food items.
However, the communities chose to remain in the area.
Meanwhile, national dam storage levels increased from 61,4 percent to 69,3 percent between January 13 and January 20, 2025, surpassing the expected 63,7 percent for this time of year.
The report further noted variations in provincial water levels, with significant differences observed in the north-eastern region.
River flows, including the Zambezi River, have improved due to recent rainfall and inflows from upper catchments.
Online Reporter