BEITBRIDGE — Most villagers in Beitbridge district who lost their homes as a result of heavy floods that hit the area early this week say they have not received any assistance so far.
Report by Khulani Nkabinde
They have resorted to seeking shelter at neighbouring homesteads where the floods did not cause much damage.
In interviews on Thursday, villagers said they were shocked by the insensitivity of authorities who have reportedly turned a blind eye to their plight.
Tinevimbo Beni, who lives in Mawale village, lost two children when the room they were sleeping in caved in. She lost her entire homestead during the raging floods. Her brother, who lives nearby, has given her shelter.
“We have not received any help from any quarter so far. We were hoping that we would receive some sort of assistance,” said Beni, standing next to the room where her children perished. “I would like to rebuild my homestead.”
Beni said the floods were the worst she had experienced since moving to the area in 2006.
Another villager Mboneni Sibanda also lost her only two-roomed house which was completely flattened.
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She, however, escaped harm as she went to seek shelter at a neighbour’s homestead before the house collapsed. “I have lost everything,” Sibanda said. “No one came to help us here.”
The Mawale villagers said they feared the remaining homesteads would be swept away should the floods hit again if temporary shelter was not found for the flood victims.
In Mawale village alone, more than 15 homesteads were destroyed. Other affected areas include Tshasvingo, Tshitulipasi and Chikwalakwala. Heavy rains started pounding the area on Friday last week and only abated on Tuesday.
Beitbridge district administrator Simon Muleya, who also heads the local Civil Protection Unit (CPU), said they had not turned a blind eye to flood victims, but were merely prioritising help to the most affected areas.
“In Chikwalakwala, we have provided flood victims with tents and temporary shelter near the clinic,” Muleya said.
He said in Tshitulipasi, 19 families were provided with shelter. Muleya said infrastructure such as roads and bridges were extensively damaged in the affected areas.
“The roads are impassable and villagers have resorted to putting up stones where the bridges were so that they could move from one area to the other.”
Muleya said the CPU met Matabeleland South governor Angeline Masuku on Wednesday morning and appraised her about the situation on the ground.
“The governor pledged to set up a fund to help the victims. She also felt that we should have a helicopter under the CPU which we would use when the need arises,” he added.
