Mugabe orders compensation of flood victims

Chingwizi flood victims will stay put at the transition camp until the government has secured money to compensate them, Zanu-PF politburo has resolved.

Speaking on the sidelines of the politiburo meeting Thursday, Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said President Robert Mugabe had tasked Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa to secure funds to compensate the flood victims before relocating them.

"As it stands, only 400 out of the 3 000 families have been relocated. The families have vowed to stay put until they are compensated. Chinamasa has been tasked by his excellency to find money to relocate the families before the rainy season begins," said Gumbo.

Victims of the Tokwe-Mukosi flood, who are demanding a total of $9 million, have vowed not to move from the Chingwizi holding camp until they have received compensation.

More than 3 000 people were relocated to the camp following flooding after heavy rain and fears the Tokwe-Mukosi dam wall could collapse.

The government has since begun relocating the flood victims to designated permanent settlement areas.

But, according to reports, angry villagers told a visiting ministerial committee led by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo that unless their demands were met they would stay put.

Since the February floods, villagers have expressed dissatisfaction with the way government has  handled the crisis.

Many villagers said they lost all their property during their relocation to the holding camp.