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Emmanuel Kafe recently in CHIMANIMANI
WITH two days remaining before Christmas, billions of people across the globe are anxiously looking forward to dancing, wining and dining with their loved ones.
It is that time of the year when family members and friends exchange gifts, share experiences and generally plan for the future.
Although Christmas is an annual Christian festival which commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, non-Christians also partake in the festivities that will be lined up during this period.
The majority of Zimbabweans from all walks of life are looking forward to a time of merry-making and sharing.
But for the survivors of the devastating Cyclone Idai, the prospects of them enjoying the holiday are next to nothing.
A recent visit to Chimanimani, a place ravaged by the cyclone in March, resulting in death and destruction, revealed that this Christmas will, without doubt, not be one oto remember, for a variety of reasons
Government and the world have, however, not turned their back on the people of Chimanimani.
Efforts by Government have resulted in the rehabilitation of roads and bridges, provision of foodstuffs, clothes, blankes and other needs.
In Kopa, the South African National Defence Forces and their Zimbabwe National Army counterparts constructed two Bailey bridges across major rivers.
ZUPCO
Among the rehabilitated bridges is the Nyahodi No. 2 bridge which is now functional.
The rehabilitation of roads and the introduction of the Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) buses came as a relief to the locals.
In terms of aid, the international community, through its agents, humanitarian organisations, well-wishers and churches, is providing relief aid to the victims.
Some of humanitarian organisations are availing aid in the form of cash and food- stuffs.
Families are receiving $200 every month and food hampers that consist of mealie meal, cooking oil, beans, sugar and soya chunks, among others.
Government, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, is also taking the lead in the provision of basic health facilities.
Latrines and hand washing facilities were constructed in some of the wards.
Government, according to Mr John Misi, the Chimanimani District Administrator, is also working on relocating the affected families.
“We identified Nhedziwa as one of the places that the affected families will be resettled,” Mr Misi said.
Despite these sterling efforts it is apparent that the Chimanimani community is yet to come to terms with this tragic loss of life, property and livelihoods.
Gloom
Memories of how the cyclone devastated entire communities are still fresh in the minds of many.
Sad stories of how victims clung on to roofs, trees and termite mounds will, forever, be etched in the minds of the survivors.
For Oncemore Ndumiyana (47), who lives in a tent at Nyamatanda, one of the camps that were set up at Ngangu, the onset of the rainy season brought with it the sad memories that are associated with the cyclone.
“Each time the cloud gathers, I am reminded of the events of that fateful night. In a flash, I lost my wife and three children. I am now alone and to me, there is nothing to celebrate this Christmas,” Ndumiyana, who was fighting back tears, said.
After losing his entire family, he has to start all over again.
“Imagine at my age, I have to start raising a family. I do not have the energy or the resources,” he added.
Apart from two blankets and some few utensils, Ndumiyana’s only other possessions are a small radio and a bible.
Food insecurity
Gogo Maria (50) and her daughter-in-law, Rudo (29), lost their homes and crops during the cyclone and are now jointly taking care of orphaned twin babies, Luisa and Fransisca.
In July, Fransisca was diagnosed with acute malnutrition, and both babies have suffered from diarrhoea, malaria and flu in the past six months.
Albertis Marava (31), who lives with her five children at a makeshift camp near Ngangu, spoke about how her family lost virtually all its sources of livelihood.
“Before the cyclone, we were farmers. We used to grow bananas that we sold for our survival. We cultivated sesame and we sold it as well. Besides the goats, we also had chickens and goats. Now we have nothing,” Albertis said.
She said if her family was allocated land, it could be self-sufficient again.
“We are not lazy. If we are given land, we will be able to grow crops and take care of ourselves. We cannot do that since we do not have the land,” she added.
Accommodation crisis
The majority of the survivors who were interviewed said if ever they were to get Christmas gifts, for them, the perfect gift would be land to settle on.
Stanley Sithole, a resident at Nyamatanda Camp, said he would happily accept an offer for land with both hands.
“I am naturally a farmer and I have a big family. As you can see, this tent is all I call home. If I can get land, I will build houses that will accommodate my family. Relocation will be our greatest Christmas gift,” Sithole said.
Although the victims of Idai in Chimanimani lost almost everything, they are convinced that the future is bright.
“I am hopeful that brighter days are coming. We are not going to stay put and starve. Instead, we are hopeful that we will be relocated and after the relocation, we will live a happy, normal life,” concluded Sithole.
As we wine and dine this Christmas, let us spare a thought for the victims of the Cyclone Idai.
Online Reporter