Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
THE Bulawayo Civil Protection Committee has extended relief aid to 38 residents from Ward 17 whose homesteads and property were damaged by the recent heavy rains that pounded the city and other parts of the country. What unfolded was a quiet yet powerful moment of solidarity, a reminder that in times of turmoil, communities and institutions can still come together with tenderness and purpose.
The food and non-food items were distributed by the committee on Wednesday, led by the Local Government Director, Fikile Marovatsanga, at a ceremony held at St Peter’s Hall. The air inside the hall carried that familiar mixture of gratitude and sorrow — the gratitude of receiving help, and the sorrow that such help had become necessary in the first place.
“The number of people affected is more than this figure of 38, only that these were deemed to be the worst affected,” said Marovatsanga. Her words fell gently but firmly, acknowledging the quiet suffering beneath the statistics, the many stories of loss that stretched beyond the gathered group.
Each victim received a two-ply blanket, four litres of cooking oil, four packets of sugar beans, two packets of Kapenta fish, two bars of washing soap, a single cooking pot and two cups. These were simple items, yet in the hands of those who had watched their belongings wash away, they became symbols of renewal, small anchors of dignity.
“The items were purchased from the Department of Civil Protection Unit national fund, which allocated ZiG300 000 to each of the 10 provinces and from that money we have managed to purchase these items, which, even though they may seem little, we want to believe will bring some immediate relief to the victims,” said Marovatsanga. Her voice carried the weight of a public servant who understood both the limitations and the urgent value of what was being offered.
Two of the victims are 78 and 80-year-old widows, Margaret Ncube and Anna Sibanda, who both expressed profound happiness at receiving what they said was unexpected assistance. Their faces — shadowed by age, brightened by unexpected kindness — captured the heart of the moment.
“I am honestly very happy today. I never thought this would happen to me. So, I extend my gratitude to the Government for this gesture,” said Ncube. Her sincerity echoed across the hall like a quiet hymn.
Fellow villager, Sibanda, said she had no words to express her appreciation following the unfortunate incident.
“The little food stuff that I had was soaked in water and destroyed, so this assistance has brought so much happiness to me,” said Sibanda. Her relief was palpable, the kind that softens shoulders long tensed by worry.
Addressing the villagers, Ward 17 Councillor Sikhululekile Moyo said the food and non-food support was a clear demonstration that the Government valued its citizens in both good and difficult times.
“This is a gesture that proves that our Government really thinks of us and we want to appreciate that as Ward 17,” said Moyo. His remarks wrapped the moment in a sense of shared purpose, of a community held rather than abandoned.
Bulawayo Chief Fire Officer Mhlangano Moyo and other members of the provincial CPU attended the event. In his remarks, Moyo said they had managed to provide some affected villagers with tents, although in some cases the structure of the homes made it impossible to offer tents as temporary roofing. His explanation was a reminder of the complexity of disaster relief — the delicate balance between what is possible and what is desperately needed.
The country continues to grapple with the devastating effects of the 2025/26 rainfall season, which has claimed at least 134 lives and affected thousands more as heavy rains persist across the country. The magnitude of the tragedy loomed over the ceremony like a grey cloud, ever present, ever heavy.
According to the CPU report, 56 marooning incidents have been recorded, while 237 schools have sustained varying degrees of damage. At least 1 500 households have been impacted, alongside widespread destruction of road infrastructure and other critical public assets. These figures, stark and unforgiving, painted the broader canvas against which the Ward 17 relief efforts sat — a single stitch in a vast tapestry of loss.
The situation has worsened following the resumption of heavy rains in March 2026, raising concern among authorities and communities as rivers overflow and dams reach critical levels. Anxiety has become part of daily life; the weather no longer a passing concern but an unpredictable force that dictates survival.
The Government, through the Department of Civil Protection (DCP), has activated a wide range of measures in response to the disaster.
These include activating Civil Protection structures from national to village level, continuous dissemination of weather warnings in collaboration with the Meteorological Services Department, disbursement of emergency funds to provinces and districts, and distribution of food and non-food relief items to affected households.
It is a monumental effort, as if the nation itself has rolled up its sleeves to shield its citizens.
The Government has also allocated 50 tonnes of grain per district to assist stranded communities and intensified public awareness campaigns warning people against crossing flooded rivers. These interventions, practical and lifesaving, underline the gravity of the moment and the determination to prevent further heartbreak.
