Cyclone Freddy: Air Force allocated US$800k for jet fuel, schools closed

Government has allocated US$800 000 to the Air Force for jet fuel and ordered day scholars in affected districts to stay home among other contingency measures to cope with Cyclone Freddy.

Weather experts said the provinces likely to be worst affected include, Manicaland, Masvingo, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Matabeleland South and Harare Metropolitan.

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) on Wednesday urged citizens in the affected districts to be on high alert as a severe tropical Cyclone Freddy is expected to make landfall in the country up to Sunday, February 26.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which is now an overland depression, will reach its peak intensity of 110km/h and make landfall in the early hours of Friday.

According to the News Report, The Air Force of Zimbabwe has been allocated US$800 000 for jet fuel while ZWL$235 million is set aside for the Police Sub Aqua Unit as Government readies for Cyclone Freddy.

Civil Protection Unit (CPU) acting Chief director Nathan Nkomo also told The Mirror in an interview that his organisation is on high alert for the cyclone expected to be over Manicaland, Masvingo and Mat South up to Sunday, February 26.

“We are on high alert and there are ongoing awareness campaigns in communities likely to be affected,” he added.

According to the Meteorological Services Department, Cyclone Freddy is expected to head West –South- West and in 36 hours, reach its final peak intensity of around 110 km/h (60 knots).

“Freddy will be forced westward making landfall in the early morning hours of Friday, February 24, 2023 and quickly weakening over the next three days (NB:This trajectory may change drastically).

“However, as early as Thursday evening, into Friday morning, the spinning cloud-bands, of the Tropical Storm Freddy , are anticipated to cause localised heavy rains above 65 mm and strong winds reduced to less than 40 knots in districts such as Chimanimani, Chipinge, Chiredzi, Mwenezi, Beitbridge, Chivi Masvingo rural, Zaka and Bikita,” read the Met report.