SCORES of people were left homeless and property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed at the weekend after heavy rains pounded Mangwe district in Matabeleland South.
Report by Blondie Ndebele
Mangwe MP Edward Mkhosi told NewsDay in an interview that Saturday’s heavy rains had damaged a school and a shopping centre.
“Bango Primary School and Bango shopping centre are the most affected,” he said.
“There were strong winds that uprooted some trees and power poles and the rains were accompanied by hail that hit the roofs.
“Some of the areas do not have electricity now because of the storm. The situation is very bad.”
He said the storm also destroyed homes at Khalanyoni, Maninji, Mambale and Ngulubeni villages, and the areas along the Botswana border.
Mkhosi said the hailstorm left a trail of destruction with some of the houses completely flattened.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“The storm was too strong that some of the people’s property was swept away, houses and crops were also destroyed,” he said. He said he had not received any reports of people who had died or were injured during the storm.
Matabeleland South acting provincial administrator Midard Khumalo yesterday said he was on his way to Mangwe to assess the damage and was not in a position to comment on the matter.
Mkhosi said he would source funds to rebuild the school blocks that were destroyed before the second school term begins.
Early this month, three people died in Mberengwa and six were injured when a violent storm hit the area.
About 120 people were affected by the storm that destroyed crops and houses.
A number of people were also left homeless in West Nicholson in Matabeleland South.
