Chronicle Editor
Yoliswa Dube-Moyo, Mat South Bureau Chief
There is need to build strong public buildings that can withstand thunderstorms and harsh weather patterns, an official here has said.
Matabeleland South Province has in recent times recorded a number of incidents where roofs of schools and health institutions have been blown away by strong winds during thunderstorms.
This week, Bengo Primary School pupils in Gwanda South were reportedly left in the open after part of the school’s roofing was lost during a thunderstorm. St Anne’s Hospital and Tshelanyemba Mission Hospital were also affected.
Manama Mission Hospital is currently undergoing repairs after infrastructure and buildings were extensively damaged by a violent storm early in October.
Roofs of several wards that include the maternity ward were blown off following the heavy rains accompanied by strong winds.
The strong winds and heavy rains which hit the Manama area also left the hospital without electricity after solar panels were damaged as well as water tanks and telecommunications cables resulting in the suspension of critical services.
The suspended services include the expanded programme of immunisation (EPI), maternity delivery services, postnatal care services, isolation of Covid-19 positive mothers, antenatal care services and integrated management of neonatal, childhood illnesses and mortuary services.
Four departments were extremely affected and the hospital is operating with just four wards which are accommodating all the admitted patients.
This is now becoming the trend during the rainy season in the province with calls for public construction engineers and planners to go back to the drawing board and find lasting solutions.
Matabeleland South provincial public works director Mr Sijabuliso Ncube said it was imperative that buildings are standardised in order to avert disaster.
“We have to standardise these buildings and make sure qualified people do the roofing especially in schools. Schools are funded by School Development Committees and they usually use affordable builders who would’ve said they know how to do the job,” said Mr Ncube.
He said local authorities should adhere to certain standards of how buildings should be constructed. “However, due to funding limitations sometimes, most people go for the cheaper option.
Another challenge is skills flight. We’ve lost a lot of skilled personnel to the diaspora so semi-skilled labour is for most buildings, which is a contributing factor. Also, the materials used sometimes are sub-standard, they’re no longer the quality materials that were used before.
Local authorities also no longer have resources to monitor all structures being built,” said Mr Ncube.
Matabeleland South Provincial Medical Director Dr Rudo Chikodzore said it was not only schools beings affected by heavy rains accompanied by strong winds.
“It’s not only schools. This week St Anne’s and Tshelanyemba were affected. Repairs following this kind of disaster may need to be considered in budgeting for the coming year, if this has not already been done,” said Dr Chikodzore. – @Yolisswa
Online Reporter