Beitbridge, Matabeleland South on flood alert

RESIDENTS of Beitbridge and other parts of Matabeleland South province have been put on high alert in the wake of floods threatening the southern parts of the country following heavy torrential rainfall over the past few weeks.

BY OWN CORRESPONDENT

This comes amid reports that Zhovhe Dam is spilling, while several smaller dams in Gwanda and Beitbridge district were reported to have breached following above normal rainfall since last week.

Limpopo River, the physical boundary between Zimbabwe and South Africa, is overflowing after heavy rains in its catchment area, mostly Esigodini, Bulawayo and Gwanda.

Chairperson of Beitbridge town’s Civil Protection Unit, Kilibone Ndou, said they had advised residents staying on lower ground to move to higher ground in the event of flooding.

“We are communicating through the usual channels of councillors, chiefs, village heads. We have not heard anything from the meteorological office, but the rains are persistent. Children were advised to stay away from school if not under adult care,” she said.

Last year, over 1 200 residents were left stranded after their houses in low-lying sections of Dulivhadzimo were covered by floods after Wamulala River burst its banks.

The river cuts through Dulivhadzimo high-density suburb.