11 ministers to visit neglected Tsholotsho flood victims

STUNG by accusations that flood relief efforts have all been centered on Tokwe-Mukosi in Masvingo, the government is responding by sending no less than ELEVEN ministers to water-ravaged Tsholotsho today.

The ministerial team, led by the Senior Minister of State Simon Khaya Moyo, will assess the damage caused by recent floods as well as the needs of the affected families, many of whom were left homeless.

Also on the tour will be the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland North Cain Mathema, Professor Jonathan Moyo (Information, Media and Broadcasting Services), Sydney Sekeramayi (Defence), Dr Ignatius Chombo (Local Government, Public Works and National Housing), Joseph Made (Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development), Lazarus Dokora (Primary and Secondary Education), David Parirenyatwa (Health and Childcare), Obert Mpofu (Transport and Infrastructural Development), Kembo Mohadi (Home Affairs), Saviour Kasukuwere (Environment, Water and Climate) and Walter Chidhakwa (Mines and Mining Development). Killian Mupingo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, will join the ministers.

Cde Khaya Moyo said the delegation would tour Sipepa area and use a helicopter to reach other affected areas. The delegation briefly met members of the Matabeleland North Provincial Civil Protection Unit at a Bulawayo hotel yesterday to get an update on the situation on the ground ahead of today's visit.

The ministers will assess the food, shelter, education and health needs of flood victims. A report by the district Civil Protection Unit notes that while all 22 wards of Tsholotsho received normal to above normal rains, wards six and eight were adversely affected by excessive rains from January 27 to February 8.

The worst hit areas include Butabubili, Gariya, Dzokotsi, Mtshina, Sandawana, Sasedza, Kalave in ward eight and Mahlaba, Mapili Mahlosi, Mbanyana, Matupula, Mbamba and Jimila in ward six. Ward eight - dominated by the San community - was affected by flooding caused by the spilling Gariya Dam while in ward six flooding was caused by two overflowing rivers, Gwayi and Zumbani.

A child from Sasedza drowned and three children from Butabubili were injured as water surged.

While most schools were not affected by the floods, close to 300 pupils in different wards missed classes by up to 10 days as rains pounded the district.

In Butabubili, more than 40 homesteads had houses destroyed by floods.  In Gariya, more than 30 homesteads were destroyed. In Sandawana, three homesteads were affected and five in Kalane. HIV/Aids patients were also not spared, with many failing to access life-saving medication as clinics were cut-off by flooded rivers.

Tsholotsho's flood victims have complained that the government appeared more concerned about the Masvingo floods, with huge consignments of food, blankets, tents and medicines being donated to people displaced by rising waters in Tokwe-Mukosi.

The high-powered ministerial tour appears to be a response to these accusations of neglect.