The Sunday News
IT looks like the rainy season is now upon us albeit late and communities around the country should be celebrating this phenomena which is very important for life and all living things. The coming of the rains mark the regeneration of people’s lives and gives hope to millions of people as they need the rains to carry out farming activities to feed themselves and their families.
While some people are celebrating the rains that have been falling in most parts of the country, it is not the same for villagers in some parts of Bulilima District in Matabeleland South and the neighbouring district of Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North where hailstorms have left a trail of destruction.
In Bulilima the people are mourning following the death of three children after the hailstorm hit the area and caused widespread damage estimated at tens of thousands of dollars.
Our sister paper, Chronicle reported that a picture of despair is unfolding in the aftermath of the heavy storm which swept through Bulilima on Monday last week where in Dombodema and Dombolefu wards, dozens of homes are roofless and numerous trees were uprooted by strong winds that accompanied the massive storm.
Other affected areas in Bulilima include Tokwana, Ntoli, Gampu and Mzwanyana while in Tsholotsho at least 18 homesteads and five schools were destroyed and 85 head of cattle, more than 3 000 goats and 110 goats were killed during the heavy rains. Scores of villagers in Shaba, Dikili, Dogwe, Nata, Malila and Mathe were left homeless following the downpour that pounded the district on Monday afternoon.
Only last year, hundreds of villagers were left homeless in Tsholotsho following severe flooding and in fact Tsholotsho, like Muzarabani in Mashonaland Central, are unfortunate districts that have a perennial problem of floods.
It is against this background that we call on the authorities to activate the disaster preparedness committees to deal with the situation on the ground.
The affected people need food, shelter and other provisions for them to survive and that can only come from the Government and other stakeholders.
The Civic Protection Unit should also fulfil its mission of coordinating and promoting strategic planning for emergencies at the individual, community, sectoral, local authority and national levels through regulatory mechanisms in order to provide for and ensure optimal emergency preparedness and disaster prevention in the country. It should take a lead in the two districts that have been unfortunate to be affected by this unpredictable weather pattern.
There is also a need for a multi-sectoral approach to the problem that has affected the two districts with the identification of the immediate needs of the affected communities.
Because of the hailstorm a number of community activities are in limbo, the people need food while there is a need for the school children to continue learning and that can only happen when the community gets support from the responsible authorities.
The support should be given as soon as possible so that the villagers can also participate in the farming activities to prevent another unfortunate situation come next year’s harvest.
We once again appeal for the immediate attention and provision of basic rescue needs for the affected communities.
