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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) here is on high alert for floods and heavy storms, as rains continue pounding most parts of the district, an official has said. Acting District Administrator Mr Jahson Mugodzwa, who chairs the local CPU committee, said they were rolling out floods awareness campaigns to educate communities living in low-lying areas on disaster and risk management methods.

He said since the start of the rainy season, they have recorded a number of disasters around the district and at the border post where the roofs of major buildings were blown away by storms.

He said several schools, clinics and households in the rural areas had been destroyed by hailstorms.

“The latest disaster occurred on Monday night in Ward 4 urban (Rank Area) which affected 844 people who had their properties soaked due to flooding,” said Mr Mugodzwa. “In addition, the rains continue to cause damage in the rural areas of the district.”

Mr Mugodzwa said although they had limited capacity in terms of resources, they were already on the ground assessing damages and mobilising resources for the victims. He said those affected by recent disasters were in need of food, clothes and blankets.

According to Mr Mugodzwa, houses built from pole and mud, topped the list of infrastructure, which collapsed during flash floods or hailstorms.

“Though some buildings are collapsing, we are yet to receive reports of any fatalities,” he said. “At the same, time we continue to urge people to be wary of flooding and report incidents as and when they happen to get rapid responses.”

Mr Mugodzwa said communities living close to water bodies including dams and rivers were at high risk of flooding, if the rains continued falling.

Some of the known hotspots for floods in Beitbridge district are Shashe, Tongwe, Makakavule, Tshikwalakwala and those close to Zhovhe Dam.

“We are engaging the people through ward councillors, traditional leaders among other stakeholders,” said Mr Mugodzwa.

He said people should exercise extreme caution when attempting to cross flooded or fast flowing rivers and streams on foot or by vehicle.

In January 2013, a total of 12 people drowned in the eastern part of the district where another 200 were left homeless. In March 2016, another 777 people from 225 households in Beitbridge town were left stranded when their houses were flooded.