BEITBRIDGE – Heavy rains in Zimbabwe have seen many people losing their lives and homes. In our exclusive pictures we show you the Beitbridge area where some villagers have been forced to seek shelter in neighbouring homesteads where the floods did not cause much damage.
Some villagers expressed shock at the insensitivity of authorities who have turned a blind eye to their plight. For example Tinevimbo Beni, who lives in Mawale village lost two children when the room they were sleeping in caved in.
“We have not received any help from any quarter so far. We were hoping that we would receive some sort of assistance,” said Beni, standing next to the room where her children perished. “I would like to rebuild my homestead.”
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Another villager Mboneni Sibanda also lost her only two-roomed house which was completely flattened. She, however, escaped harm as she went to seek shelter at a neighbour’s homestead before the house collapsed.
In Mawale village alone, more than 15 homesteads were destroyed. Other affected areas include Tshasvingo, Tshitulipasi and Chikwalakwala. Heavy rains started pounding the area on Friday last week and only abated on Tuesday.
Beitbridge district administrator Simon Muleya, who also heads the local Civil Protection Unit (CPU), said they had not turned a blind eye to flood victims, but were merely prioritising help to the most affected areas.
