adminNozibelo Maphosa,Sunday News Reporter
AT LEAST one person died while 24 others were injured in the Matebeleland region following the fall of heavy rains while 621 homesteads have been destroyed nationally.
The losses incurred also include the death of 64 cattle, 114 goats, 17 donkeys and 2 073 chickens in Bulilima in Matabeleland South Province.
A report compiled by the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) from November to end of December revealed that four of the 24 injured people were struck by lightning at a school in Binga, one of the victims — a 10-year-old pupil died on admission to the hospital.
The other 18 were pupils at Gwamayaya Primary School in Nkayi where a hailstorm blew off the roof of two classroom blocks, resulting in pupils sustaining injuries.
“Five children were treated on site by a local nursing staff, 13 of them were treated at a local clinic, three were later referred to the district hospital and one who suffered fractures was admitted to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
“In Matetsi area, a hut collapsed due to heavy rains, injuring two family members in the head, the victims are now seeking funds for X-rays,” reads part of the report.
Some of the villagers’ houses were flooded and property destroyed. A total of 18 families were left homeless after the hailstorms destroyed their homes. One hut was burnt by lightning in Huwana, Bulilima.
“The hailstorms also destroyed 230 homesteads in the Ngwanyana and Tshitshi areas in Mangwe District and a police station from the same area was also affected.
The hailstorms also destroyed a total of 12 schools in the Matabeleland provinces. The schools include five secondary and six primary schools from Mangwe and one primary school in Nkayi,” read the report.
According to the report a hailstorm blew off the roofing of three by two classroom blocks at Gwamayaya Primary in Nkayi resulting in the damage of furniture and stationery. The rehabilitation of the damaged property is estimated to cost $70 000.
In Matabeleland South, the Department of Civil Protection in conjunction with IOM delivered tarpaulins to both Bulilima and Mangwe districts. The District Civil Protection committees had conducted an assessment to identify the affected people with support from the community leadership.
The report also read that some foodstuffs were mobilised within the district and distributed to the worst affected households.
The affected are also being supported under the current grain distribution programme. Some households who were left homeless were provided with some temporary shelter in the form of tents.
According to the report some households were advised to relocate but the idea of relocating was faced with resistance.
In Hwange, 21 families and inmates at an old people’s home had to be evacuated to a temporary accommodation.
In a statement in December 2016, the Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Oppah Muchinguri said people should take precaution and avoid crossing flooded rivers.
“With the expected heavy rains, we appeal to the public to take precaution. They should avoid crossing flooded rivers and stay away from low-lying areas which are vulnerable to flooding,” she said then.
– @maphosanozibelo
Bongani Ndlovu