The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
THE country’s Civil Protection Unit (CPU) says it is facing resources constraints and has engaged Treasury and other stakeholders to avail more funds so that timeous interventions can be made available to affected communities in the face of predicted heavy rains and flooding.
The unit, however, said communities should not panic as it was already on the ground responding to cases of disaster in areas affected by heavy rains. Speaking to Sunday News, CPU chief director Mr Nathan Nkomo said they were working with depleted resources and called on relevant authorities to intervene and save communities from the vagaries of weather phenomenon as a result of climate change.
Mr Nathan Nkomo
He said they have engaged the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) for food relief to already affected communities and expressed hope that by Monday (tomorrow) grain would be delivered to some of the affected areas.
Grain Marketing Board
“We have received distress calls from a number of areas in the country. We are seized with reports from Gwanda District, Bubi and Kamativi where communities were affected by the heavy rains. A number of households were affected and need either food or shelter. In Gwanda we are told that seven homes were destroyed leaving families stranded. A beerhall has also been destroyed while in Bubi about 38 people require shelter and food after their homes were destroyed by heavy rains. Our teams are on the ground to ensure the affected people get assistance,” said Mr Nkomo.
He said inadequate resources were choking their efforts and called on stakeholders to intervene and provide relief to communities.
“We have engaged the GMB for our grain stocks, so we want to ensure that by Monday that grain is delivered in those places, including Kamativi in Hwange.”
He said some of their partners were also assisting and on standby in terms of shelter and food provision in flood-prone areas.
“Our resources have been depleted and we have engaged Treasury requesting for more funds so that we can ensure everyone’s safety following high alerts of heavy rains and flooding that might affect some parts of the country. We are currently doing the best that we can on the ground, already responding to cases but we need more resources,” he said.
On Thursday, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) warned the public of heavy rains and flash floods expected in the Southern and Eastern parts of the country until 15 February 2023. The rains, according to MSD, are due to moisture drifting into the country from Mozambique.
“Moisture is drifting into the country from Mozambique through Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces. This has been coupled by a cloud band moving from Botswana into Matabeleland South. These two systems should lead to considerable rainfall in Matabeleland South, southern parts of Midlands, Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Harare Metropolitan provinces, as well as other areas along the Harare-Bulawayo highway,” reads an alert by the MSD.
The MSD said the localised downpours were probable in a number of areas and may reduce visibility as well as result in flash flooding.
“Localised heavy rains in excess of 50 millimetres with lightning and hailstorms will in some places result in roof tops being blown off causing loose debris while trees may fall due to strong winds. Open drains and potholes that may be covered in water are some of the things to watch out for,” said MSD.
Members of the public have been encouraged to stay indoors during thunderstorms as rain may affect outdoor activities.
MSD also warned against crossing flooded rivers on foot or in vehicles as that might lead to loss of life. Heavy rains this season have caused floods resulting in the loss of crops, livestock, destruction of property — homes, schools, clinics and other key infrastructure in some parts of the country.
