Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
SIX families were left homeless and crops destroyed after heavy rains, thunderstorms, and hail battered villages in the Buwerimwe area of Marange on Monday night.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has since warned that Manicaland Province should brace for normal to above-normal rainfall throughout March, raising concerns of further damage in vulnerable communities.
The worst-hit villages include Mafunde, Chikuku, and Daure, where villagers reported extensive destruction of homesteads and severe losses in agricultural fields due to hailstorms.
Manicaland Civil Protection Unit chairman, Mr John Misi confirmed the destruction of homes and crops.
Mr Misi also indicated that Government is intervening with requisite assistance to the affected families.
“Yes, we have received reports of damages to properties, mainly houses for six households. This was a result of heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and hailstones that descended on Monday night.
“Our officials are on the ground assessing the extent of the damage. Assistance in terms of food and temporary shelter is being sorted out for the affected families,” said Mr Misi.
In a separate interview, MSD Focal Person for Manicaland, Mr Tapiwa Maringo confirmed that in the month of March, normal to above normal rainfall will be experienced in most parts of the province.
“It is forecasted that the month of March we are going to receive normal to above normal rainfall as compared to the long term rainfall for the month. We will soon be sharing the maps of the outlook that is March, April and May,” he said.
Mr Misi warned against construction of substandard shelter that could easily succumb to the vagaries of extreme weather conditions.
“We are concerned with some of the structures that we see, especially in marginalised communities where building standards and monitoring is hardly observed.
“It is against this background that we want to urge people to try to construct resilient structures that can withstand the effects of extreme weather conditions,” he said.
