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Freedom Mupanedemo Midlands Bureau

Classes have been disrupted at three schools in Mberengwa, while several villagers were left in the open after a thunderstorm, followed by a heavy down pour, swept through Mberengwa North on Monday night.

Teachers’ cottages, school administration blocks, as well as classrooms had their roofs blown off at Chemimwe, Mbirashava and Ruvuraugwe primary schools, leaving both pupils and teachers stranded.

Several homesteads near Mbirashava Primary School were also destroyed.

The affected villagers appealed for urgent help from Government.

“It was a violent thunderstorm which razed through our villager last night (Monday) and I had to seek refuge at a neighbour together with my family after our homestead was destroyed,” said one of the affected villagers, Mr Thomas Mpofu.

“I understand the storms also destroyed our school and today (yesterday) there were no classes at Mbirashava Primary because roofs were blown away.”

Another villager, Ms Melody Mangena said her children escaped unhurt after a bedroom hut they were sleeping in collapsed due to the heavy rains.

“Our kitchen hut was also destroyed and we need to organise a temporary shelter as we work on rebuilding the destroyed houses,” she said.

Local member of Parliament, Cde Marko Raiza said he was on the ground together with the District Civil Protection Unit (CPU) to assess the extent of the damage.

He said the hailstorm also left stationary and school material destroyed at Mbirashava and Ruvuraugwi primary schools.

“We had a disaster whereby schools and homesteads were destroyed,” said Cde Raiza. “We are currently on the ground to asses the extent of the damage. We are also attending to emergency cases to see how best to assist with the help from the CPU.”