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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
HUNDREDS of villagers in Chimanimani who were displaced by Cylone Idai in March 2019, have finally seen the light and are more than ready to move into the homes the Government is building for them as the tents they have been living in for the past two years are no longer habitable.
Chimanimani was hit hard by tropical storms, Chalane and Eloise, prompting the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) to evacuate people in risky areas twice within a month.
Most affected were those staying in tents at camps that were established in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai.
However, due to heavy rains and winds, some of the tents collapsed and had to be reinforced, while others had to get additional tarpaulins to cover leaking roofs.
After initially resisting to move to Westend Farm in Bumba where Government is building houses, villagers said they were now more than ready to move anywhere which is safer than the tents they are currently staying in.
Mr Innocent Madzivenyika from Garikai Camp said the evacuations had taken a toll on them as they had to move their property to and from the evacuation centres twice within a month.
“When Tropical Storm Chalane came in December, we were moved to Mutambara Mission, while others went to Nyanyadzi. We came back early this month. We only stayed for two weeks before Tropical Storm Eloise came and we had to move again. It has been a roller-coaster month and we cannot continue like this. We need a safe place to stay where we do not have to be moved every time it rains,” he said.
The situation has been more difficult for women, especially pregnant mothers, who said the evacuation camps were as bad as the tents.
Ms Felistas Mahembe said the classrooms in which they stayed after being evacuated were potential Covid-19 super spreaders. She could not imagine giving birth to her child while still living in the tents.
“Moving from one place to the other has taken its toll on my body and I will be happy with having even a single room elsewhere. I have no explanation to give to my children as to why we have to move constantly while their friends always stay in one place,” she said.
Government began constructing houses for Cyclone Idai victims last year and the initial batch of 20 houses is at roofing stage, while another 35 houses are under construction.
Department of Public Works provincial head, Mr Tendai Chiwanza, said construction workers were on site and working towards completing the units by end of February.
“We have not yet received the roofing materials for the first 20 houses, so those units are still outstanding. However, we started constructing 35 more houses in November and we expect to complete them by end of next month,” he said.
He said the department is contemplating using IBR sheets than asbestos since they are readily available and cheaper.
With heavy rains expected to continue pounding, Manicaland provincial Civil Protection Committee is on high alert to ensure that all people in high risk areas are not affected.
Committee chairperson and Provincial Development Coordinator, Mr Edgars Seenza, said evacuating people to safer places was done to prevent another disaster like the Cyclone Idai.
“We evacuated these people because they were in high risk areas and we didn’t want to lose any lives. All 266 people have since been moved back to their homes, but we are working on moving them to permanent areas,” he said.
Online Reporter