adminTimoth Makohliso Midlands Reporter
HEAVY rains accompanied by strong winds destroyed five primary and two secondary schools in Gokwe North District forcing hundreds of pupils to attend lessons under trees. A number of homes, crops, bridges and roads were also destroyed, isolating Gokwe North District from the rest of the province. The schools that were destroyed are Svibe and Mashame Secondary, Masosoni, Dambamazura, Zumba, Mashame and Mutehwe primary schools all under Chief Chireya.
District Administrator Fortune Mupungu confirmed the disaster. He said he received a report on the matter last week on Friday.
“I can confirm that strong winds destroyed seven schools leaving many pupils stranded.
“A number of them are now attending lessons under trees while others are overcrowded in the few classrooms remaining.
“The situation is very bad considering that it’s raining,” said Mupungu.
He said the strong winds blew off roofs of more than 20 classroom blocks.
Mupungu said it was fortunate that there were no injuries or deaths.
He said the storm also left a trail of destruction in the fields along the Sanyati and Katsvanzva rivers after the two rivers breached their banks.
Mupungu said several huts were also destroyed.
He said villagers no longer access clinics and hospitals as most bridges were destroyed.
“As members of the Civil Protection Unit we’ve engaged development partners to assist in reconstructing the destroyed infrastructure. I want to say I’m very pleased with the response we’re getting from members of the community.
“In some areas we now have makeshift structures that pupils are using as classrooms while the classrooms are being repaired,” he said.
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