Government failed Tsholotsho villagers

Government has been accused of failing the people of Tsholotsho with its slow response to the floods that affected villagers in the area.

Government only reacted to the Tsholotsho floods after the media exposed the plight of villagers.

Addressing the Bulawayo Press Club, Radio Dialogue chairman Peter Zwide Khumalo said government was caught napping on the matter.

"Government failed to manage the situation in Tsholotsho. They knew that Tsholotsho is prone to flooding in times of heavy rains but they did nothing to mitigate the effects," Khumalo a descendant of Ndebele  King Lobengula  said.

He said government officials slept on the job and failed to give adequate aid to the flood victims.

Khumalo said there was need to warn villagers on impending disasters but government failed to do that.

"That is why we need community radio stations that would warn villagers on the disasters likely to befall them," he said.

"Government need to understand that community radio stations are not for regime change as some would want people to believe.

"Any one who still maintains that line does not want to address these problems faced by Tsholotsho villagers."