Strong winds leave families stranded in Matopo

Strong winds struck several wards in Umzingwane District on Sunday, leaving a trail of destruction and rendering many villagers homeless. The worst-hit areas were wards 1, 2, 9, and 20, with the village of Matopo in ward 9 bearing the brunt of the damage.

Umzingwane District Development Coordinator Peter Mahlathini confirmed the devastation, stating that while the extent of the damage had been reported, a full assessment had not yet been conducted. "We received reports that wards 1, 2, 9, and 20 were affected, but we have not yet been able to visit the area to assess the situation properly," Mahlathini said.

Habakkuk Trust, a local civil society group, issued a report on Tuesday highlighting the destruction caused by the fierce winds, particularly in areas under Chief Mathe's jurisdiction. According to the report, the storm severely damaged homes, leaving many families without shelter.

"The affected families are now seeking refuge in makeshift shelters. There is overcrowding in the few remaining huts," the report stated.

The district's councillor for ward 9, Bekezela Ndlovu, has since issued an SOS call for immediate assistance, emphasizing the urgent need for construction materials, temporary tents, food, and bedding. "We are currently facing significant challenges due to poor mobile network coverage, making it difficult to fully assess the damage," Ndlovu said. "We are unsure of the exact number of households affected, and some families remain unreachable due to the communication barriers."

Nkala, a youth coordinator at Habakkuk Trust, described the situation as a "double tragedy" for the community. "The ongoing drought has already left many families food-insecure and dealing with livestock losses. Now, these strong winds have taken away their homes, leaving them even more vulnerable," Nkala said.

The region has been grappling with the severe effects of the El Niño-induced drought, which has exacerbated food shortages and devastated livestock, making recovery from this latest disaster even more difficult.

Habakkuk Trust also raised concerns about the district's inadequate communication infrastructure, which has hindered disaster response efforts. "While efforts to provide aid are underway, the lack of reliable network connectivity in many parts of the district has made it difficult to reach affected communities in a timely manner," the Trust noted.

In light of the ongoing challenges, local leaders and organizations are urging for immediate relief to support the affected families, providing them with shelter, food, and basic necessities as the district continues to recover from the devastating impacts of natural disasters.