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Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
AT least 15 people have died, while 785 households, the bulk of them in Midlands Province, have been damaged by the rains that continue to be experienced in most parts of the country.
Apart from the impact on people, the rains have also damaged 118 schools and 13 health facilities, leaving many without access to education and essential services.
The devastation has been recorded from September last year up to now.
Regions such as Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo, and Matabeleland North are grappling with the aftermath, facing escalating infrastructure damage and safety concerns. Amid rising waters, urgent rescue efforts are underway.
In the Midlands, 433 households have been affected, 181 households in Manicaland, 46 in Masvingo, and 47 in Matabeleland North.
In terms of learning infrastructure, the situation escalated on January 11 when Muponjane Primary School in Zvishavane was struck by a powerful storm, leaving significant damage.
The District Civil Protection Committee said the recent disaster at Muponjane has exacerbated the existing classroom shortages at the school.
With an estimated repair cost of US$8 120, the school now faces a daunting challenge. Amid rising waters, two middle-aged men remain marooned along the Runde River near Citrus Plantation.
The river’s flow is rapidly intensifying, posing a significant threat to their safety. In response, the District Civil Protection Committee is swiftly assembling a rescue team to ensure their evacuation.
Tragically, the rains have also led to drownings, while artisanal gold miners have also been particularly affected.
In Hwedza, three miners lost their lives in a mine shaft disaster on December 27, with their bodies retrieved on January 3.
“There are recommendations to close the Chikomba mining area given the recurrence of these incidents,” a department representative noted.
In Makaha, Mudzi district, three miners remain trapped underground after a shaft they were working under caved in about 14 days ago.
One miner managed to escape, and rescue efforts are ongoing, with a 24-hour command centre established, comprising personnel from the police, army, health officials, mines chiefs, and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
“All the trapped miners are of the same family from Mateta 1 Village under Chief Chireya in Gokwe,” officials reported, drawing attention to the personal tragedies hidden within this disaster.
In Mberengwa, two miners died after a shaft they were working under collapsed last Thursday.
Flash floods also hit Mbare, Harare, on January 8, inundating homes near the new Mbare Traders’ temporary market, a development that underscored the challenge of poor drainage faced by local authorities.
In Mashonaland Central, the storm unleashed devastation on Avonda Farm along the Bindura-Harare highway on January 7, affecting 11 households.
Roofs were ripped, leaving families vulnerable.
In response, the Department of Civil Protection provided essential relief items, including rice, tinned beef, and sanitisers.
As the rains continue and the impacts deepen, communities are left grappling with the aftermath, and with more rains expected today and tomorrow, more people and infrastructure could be affected by nature’s fury.
Online Reporter