News / National
Mberengwa should be declared a state of disaster as cyclone Dineo leaves a trail of destruction
19 Feb 2017 at 08:14hrs | Views
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe President Takavafira Zhou has said Mberengwa North should be declared a state of disaster as cyclone Dineo left a trail of destruction in the area.
"Cry the beloved people of Mberengwa. The current cyclone Dineo has left unprecedented levels of destruction in Mberengwa more so because the incessant rains had also destroyed infrastructure in Mberengwa. The cyclone that has affected Manicaland, Masvingo, Mberengwa, Matabeleland South and even Bulawayo, has left unparalleled destruction in terms of destruction of roads, crops, livestock, schools, hospitals, clinics and affecting the general life of people," he said.
"It was indeed a Black Thursday night (16/02/17) as unstoppable rains pounded the area of our birth till mid-day yesterday. Toilets and huts continue to collapse, while some chicken, sheep, donkeys, goats, and some cattle were swept away by the waters. Many school pupils were forced to stay at home yesterday while the few that tried to go were either warded off by flooded rivers or crossed the rivers but could not go back as the rivers were fully flooded by mid-day. A typical case that epitomise the height of destruction is the erosion of Tandavarai Bridge across Nuanetsi River."
Zhou said fallen no more to rise is the bridge as half of it from Mudavanhu area was swept away, including the flow gauge.
"Even the other part of the bridge from chief Mposi's area was extensively damaged. Water of about one and half metres deep was flowing above the bridge. The destruction of the bridge has therefore cut off the link between Mberengwa East and other areas of Mberengwa," he said.
"Jeka area that boast of Jeka hospital and a business centre that has been dubbed the Mesina of Mberengwa because of fair prices is cut off from linkage with other areas of Mberengwa as further West and South, the low lying bridges across Mutsime river have been totally destroyed. Mundi, Nuanetsi, Gambure, Mutsime, Chimwe, Gwama teacher rivers, together with many other rivers are in full flood thereby making movement very difficult. All the roads have suffered extensive damage and are not usable."
Zhou said the people of Mberengwa have been left worse off and one wonders how we will move out of this quagmire more so bearing in mind that the infrastructure destroyed was mostly built by the Rhodesian regime with very little benefit accruing to the people of Mberengwa after independence.
"Mberengwa certainly deserve to be declared a state of disaster so as to receive urgent state assistance in rehabilitating it," he said.
"Cry the beloved people of Mberengwa. The current cyclone Dineo has left unprecedented levels of destruction in Mberengwa more so because the incessant rains had also destroyed infrastructure in Mberengwa. The cyclone that has affected Manicaland, Masvingo, Mberengwa, Matabeleland South and even Bulawayo, has left unparalleled destruction in terms of destruction of roads, crops, livestock, schools, hospitals, clinics and affecting the general life of people," he said.
"It was indeed a Black Thursday night (16/02/17) as unstoppable rains pounded the area of our birth till mid-day yesterday. Toilets and huts continue to collapse, while some chicken, sheep, donkeys, goats, and some cattle were swept away by the waters. Many school pupils were forced to stay at home yesterday while the few that tried to go were either warded off by flooded rivers or crossed the rivers but could not go back as the rivers were fully flooded by mid-day. A typical case that epitomise the height of destruction is the erosion of Tandavarai Bridge across Nuanetsi River."
Zhou said fallen no more to rise is the bridge as half of it from Mudavanhu area was swept away, including the flow gauge.
"Even the other part of the bridge from chief Mposi's area was extensively damaged. Water of about one and half metres deep was flowing above the bridge. The destruction of the bridge has therefore cut off the link between Mberengwa East and other areas of Mberengwa," he said.
"Jeka area that boast of Jeka hospital and a business centre that has been dubbed the Mesina of Mberengwa because of fair prices is cut off from linkage with other areas of Mberengwa as further West and South, the low lying bridges across Mutsime river have been totally destroyed. Mundi, Nuanetsi, Gambure, Mutsime, Chimwe, Gwama teacher rivers, together with many other rivers are in full flood thereby making movement very difficult. All the roads have suffered extensive damage and are not usable."
Zhou said the people of Mberengwa have been left worse off and one wonders how we will move out of this quagmire more so bearing in mind that the infrastructure destroyed was mostly built by the Rhodesian regime with very little benefit accruing to the people of Mberengwa after independence.
"Mberengwa certainly deserve to be declared a state of disaster so as to receive urgent state assistance in rehabilitating it," he said.
Source - Byo24News
