‘Brace for more floods’

THE Meteorological Services Department has forecast heavy rains in low-lying areas starting on Saturday and warned communities living in flood-prone areas to brace for floods.

STAFF REPORTER/
OWN CORRESPONDENT

Head of public service at the Meteorological Services Department, Tich Zinyemba, said Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland and some parts of the Midlands province were likely to experience flooding.

Meanwhile, property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed at Bindura University of Science Education after it was hit by flash floods last Saturday.

Vice-Chancellor Eddie Mwenje confirmed the development yesterday, adding that the floods destroyed library books, computers, laboratory equipment, computers and furniture in the lecture rooms and staff offices.

Mwenje appealed for help from the corporate sector and well-wishers to replace the property.

Meanwhile, the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) said the Air Force of Zimbabwe had rescued and airlifted two men who had remained marooned along Nyaguwe River in Mashonaland East Province over the past two days.

“The two people who were stranded in Nyaguwe near KwaBhora have since been rescued by the Airforce of Zimbabwe after being held up for almost two days,” CPU director Madzudzo Pawadyira said.

“We will also have a team which will be doing rapid assessment that will be going around the country to the affected areas and bring us a report which will inform us what the situation is like on the ground and what is required,” he said. “We will be flying to the affected areas tomorrow (today) especially the problematic areas so that we know what is happening.”

Most parts of the country have received incessant rains over the past week, which have left hundreds of families in low-
lying areas stranded after their homes were washed away by floods.

Red Cross spokesperson Takemore Mazuruse yesterday said in Mbire eight wards were affected, while 32 boreholes were covered with water, 72 toilets collapsed, 350 households affected and crops were destroyed.

He said in Centenary, three households in Kapembere and five households in Dambakurima were destroyed and people were in need of temporary shelter.

“The above figures could be higher than this as assessment was not thoroughly done because some areas were not accessible due to bad roads and flooded bridges,” Mazuruse said