The Sunday News
Sandra Tekere, Sunday News Reporter
VILLAGERS in Ntabazinduna and the local school, John Tallach High have been left counting losses after four homesteads, classroom and school office blocks were destroyed by a storm that hit the area on Tuesday.
The rains that were accompanied by strong winds and lightning fell around 4pm and lasted for almost two hours sweeping off the roofing sheets at John Tallach High School while four homesteads were also affected in the same way.
The school administration block’s roof was blown off, thereby exposing vital documents to the rains.
A Sunday News crew that visited the school noticed that the Form One block and the dining hall, as well as the headmaster’s office had their roofs blown away although no one was injured.
In an interview, John Tallach High School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson Mr Jackson Ndlovu confirmed the destruction, saying it was the least of incidents he thought would happen to the school.
He said: “I have been associated with the school for the past 42 years and we have never experienced such destruction of property. We are thankful that the incident occurred during the school holidays because many pupils could have been exposed to the danger caused by the tree which fell on the roof of the administration block adjacent to the headmaster’s office and where pupils often walk past.”
Mr Ndlovu could not, however, quantify the damage or give out figures of money needed to reconstruct the affected blocks.
During the visit, Sunday News observed that some roofing sheets were hanging precariously from trees while some of the iron sheets were scattered all over the school. The rubble had not been cleared.
Locals who work at the school were seen trying to pick up the roofing sheets as well as cutting down a gumtree which one of the authorities said had a sentimental meaning to the school. The tree had fallen on the administration block.
Mr Ndlovu said: “The trees near the administration block have always been part of the infrastructure and for some people it will be weird to see a John Tallach High without them.”
He said the school, which was 111 years-old was yet to calculate the cost of repairing the damaged property hinting that it runs into several thousands of dollars, a project he said was not part of the school budget.
Mr Ndlovu assured the public that repairing the damaged infrastructure could be completed before the opening of schools next week.
“Parents should not panic thinking that we are not going to open. The school will open as per calendar and the pupils will find everything in shape,” he said.
Mr Ndlovu said despite the loss he was grateful that most of the computers were not destroyed and most of the vital documents have backups and above all the deputy headmistress, Miss Norma McLean who lives by herself during the holidays at the school was not hurt.
Mr Ndlovu said it was Miss McLean who witnessed the destruction of the school adding that she told him she was terrified as she had never experienced such a heavy storm accompanied by winds, lightning and hailstones that blurred her vision.
The school’s neighbouring villagers whose homes were also affected had already started repairing their homes in readiness for heavier rains that could still come.
This is the second incident of a school being destroyed by a violent storm during this rainy season in Bulawayo and its surroundings.
In October Sizane High School in Bulawayo’s Pelandaba suburb fell victim to violent winds, where almost all classroom blocks and offices had their roofs blown off and window panes shattered.
The Meteorological Services Department has issued warnings to the public about heavy rains.
