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Manyame Park residents pass through a poorly-serviced road that was destroyed by heavy rains which pounded Chitungwiza on Monday. — (Picture by Justin Mutenda)

Moleen Machingura Herald Reporter
Property worth more than US$10 000 was destroyed after a blocked drainage system pushed water into homes in Chitungwiza’s low-lying Manyame Park suburb early this week.
Acting Chitungwiza Town Clerk Ms Priccillah Vengesayi said the disaster was caused by a blocked drainage which resulted in water destroying pre-cast walls. “We are going to start de-blocking the drains tomorrow as a temporary measure to this problem,” she said. “We are carrying out investigations and there is need for re-planning, we may end up relocating these residents because they are staying in low-lying areas.”

One of the victims Mrs Juliet Rutsito, appealed for assistance after she lost property when water flooded her home. “I lost 400 chickens and other foodstuffs and we are appealing for help. Life is now difficult and we are struggling to survive,” she said.

Another victim Mr Fabion Mudiwa criticised the council for failing to deal with the poor drainage system since 2000. “Each and every year we encounter the same problem and we notify the council but to date they have done nothing about it. We need a lasting solution to this problem,” he said.

Flooding has affected many parts of the country after heavy rains pounded the country in recent weeks.
Scores of people were being relocated from low-lying areas while property, crops and livestock were also destroyed.

Government recently appealed for US$20 million from the international community to urgently evacuate, relocate, shelter and provide safe water and other basic needs to 60 000 people in the Tokwe-Murkosi Dam flood basin in Chivi, Masvingo, who have been affected by floods.