The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Midlands Correspondent
MORE than 100 villagers under Chief Sayi in Gokwe South were left homeless after close to 20 homesteads were swept away by incessant rains while scores of livestock were also killed by floods that hit the area last week.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Midlands Cde Jason Machaya said a majority of the crops in the area were now a write-off following the incessant rains that caused flooding. Minister Machaya, however, said no human life was lost.
“I have received a report that there were 16 homesteads that were destroyed by the incessant rains under Chief Sayi in Gokwe South. We are still compiling information to find out the exact number of people who were affected. I am informed that the situation on the ground is terrible and the livestock were also killed by the rains. We are very fortunate that no people died when the homesteads were destroyed by the rains,” he said.
Sunday News is reliably informed that more than 20 homesteads were destroyed and villagers were now living in makeshift houses while some have moved in with their relatives. Minister Machaya said he had engaged the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) to see how best the villagers could be assisted by the Government.
“We are having a meeting with members of the CPU to see how best we can assist these people because they have become homeless,” he said.
Minister Machaya said the incessant rains also left a trail of destruction in Zhombe where they washed away Mayoka Dam wall which was supplying water to a 70-hectare irrigation scheme.
Minister Machaya said a full assessment of the province’s infrastructure including schools, dams, bridges and houses that was destroyed by the rains was still to be conducted.
