Chronicle EditorSukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
BULILIMA villagers who had their homes destroyed by Cyclone Dineo- induced floods, are resisting relocation.
The district’s Civil Protection Unit (CPU) recently carried out an exercise to relocate villagers living close to main rivers in Bulilima District namely Manzamnyama, Thekwane and Maitengwe.
Scores of villagers living near the rivers were left homeless after excessive floods swept away their homesteads.
Speaking during a rural district development committee meeting recently, Bulilima Rural District Council human resources officer, Mr Bongani Ngwenya said 31 families from Huwana Ward had been engaged on relocation and only six were forthcoming.
“The CPU committee recently conducted a community based risk management training for villagers from Huwana Ward who are located along Manzamnyama River. Of those who attended 31 were affected by floods.
“Six of them showed interest in being relocated while five others were skeptical and the remaining didn’t want to relocate but they have asked for assistance in repairing their homes. The purpose of the training was to sensitise them on the possible hazards they may face as they are settled in a flood prone area,” he said.
Mr Ngwenya said $3, 700 was required to build a homestead for each family that was willing to be relocated. He said the new homesteads will comprise a three roomed house, granary and kitchen hut.
He said traditional leaders from Huwana Ward had been tasked to identify three sites where the families could be relocated. Mr Ngwenya said the CPU committee will then inspect the three sites to identify the suitable location to relocate villagers.
Bulilima District Administrator who is also the local CPU chairperson, Mrs Ethel Moyo said the committee would continue to engage the resisting families but they would not be forced into relocating.
“As a committee all we can do is to sensitise the villagers but we can’t coerce them into relocating. However, if they continue to resist and are affected by floods in the near future the Civil Protection Unit will not be assisting them as they have already been engaged,” she said.
Headman Manguba whose jurisdiction covers Huwana Ward said some of the villagers were resisting relocation as they wanted to live close to a reliable water source which is Manzamnyama River.
“Some villagers are resisting relocating because they prefer being close to a reliable water source which is the river but they have been told that they will have boreholes drilled in their new area. Those who remained with some of their huts still standing prefer their old structures while others want to stay on for cultural reasons,” he said.
About 29 homesteads in Huwana and Bambadzi Wards were completely destroyed by the floods early this year while 374 huts from the two wards were destroyed and 304 households were affected.
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