Rain-displaced families get land

Yoliswa Dube-Moyo, Matabeleland South Bureau Chief
Families that were displaced following a heavy downpour in Matekenya Village, Gwanda District, late last year have been allocated land to rebuild their homes.

About 25 families lost their homes, livestock and crops following the heavy rains which pounded the area on Boxing Day.

The heavy rains accompanied by strong winds destroyed several homes and cattle were struck by lightning while trees were uprooted.

Families were left with no food or shelter and the rains completely destroyed their crops.

The Gwanda District Civil Protection Unit quickly moved in to provide tents, foodstuff, grain and farming inputs to assist the affected families.

While some of the affected families could rebuild their homes on the same pieces of land, it emerged that other villagers didn’t own the land they had settled on and couldn’t build stronger structures as a result.

Gwanda District Civil Protection Unit Chairperson and acting District Development Coordinator Mr Thulani Moyo said this had been corrected and villagers who didn’t own land had been allocated land.

“Displaced villagers who didn’t own land were finally given land to construct homes.

Some of the affected families had been staying with neighbours.

Villagers have started relocating to where they have been allocated land so that they can start rebuilding their lives,” said Mr Moyo.

He bemoaned the types of shelter in the village saying it is substandard and vulnerable to harsh weather conditions.

“Their structures were very weak and there’s a need for us to help them build standardi homes,” said Mr Moyo.

Matabeleland South province has in recent times recorded a number of incidents where roofs of schools, health institutions and homes have been blown away by strong winds during thunderstorms.

Bengo Primary School pupils in Gwanda South were left in the open after part of the school’s roofing was blown off during a thunderstorm.

St Anne’s Hospital and Tshelanyemba Mission Hospital were also affected.

Manama Mission Hospital is undergoing repairs after infrastructure was extensively damaged by a violent storm in October last year.

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 resulting in the suspension of critical services.

Matabeleland South provincial public works director Mr Sijabuliso Ncube said it was imperative to build standard buildings to avert disaster.

“We have to standardise these buildings and make sure qualified people do the roofing, especially at schools.

Schools are funded by School Development Committees and they usually hire unqualified builders who do not charge much,” said Mr Ncube.

He said local authorities should insist on certain standards of buildings especially at schools and other public institutions. – @Yolisswa.