THE heavy rains that pounded Matabeleland in the past few days left 10 people dead and destroyed about 500 homesteads in Tsholotsho.
Staff Reporters
The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) yesterday said it was monitoring river flows as the rains continue pouring around the country.
CPU said scores of houses in Tsholotsho had collapsed, leaving hundreds of families homeless.
“The Tamuhla community near Gwayi River in Tsholotsho is likely to be marooned if the rains continue and we are, therefore, on high alert and monitoring river flows,” CPU said.
“Several homesteads in Tsholotsho (about 500 to date) have succumbed to excessive moisture and have collapsed and about 100 families have been left homeless as a result and require tents.”
The affected families are receiving $100 per household for food and other consumables.
CPU said in Gokwe a helicopter was dispatched to rescue eight villagers marooned on Ume, Dande and Sengwa rivers on Friday.
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Police said a man from the Sesemba area in Nkayi died after being swept away by a flooded stream on Sunday.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Billie Dube told NewsDay that Donald Nyathi (54) was found trapped in the mud after he left Sesemba business centre in Nkayi at about 5pm to go home.
His wife Sibongile Sibanda (34) searched for him, but to no avail.
“He was found by a villager, Charles Tshuma (55), the following morning,” Dube said.
“Tshuma discovered Nyathi trapped in mud in Sesemba River.”
A 16-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a pit at Entumbane in Bulawayo on Monday.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident.
He identified the deceased as Methembe Ncube (16) from Thorngrove suburb.
“He was swimming at a gravel pit in Entumbane suburb with other children aged between 10 and 12 years,” Moyo said.
A report was made to Entumbane police, who retrieved the body from the pit.
