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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Bureau
GOVERNMENT has released over $5 million to compensate at least 2 000 families at Chingwizi in Mwenezi District, who were displaced by floods at Tugwi-Mukosi Dam in 2014, an official has said.

Masvingo Provincial administrator Mr Fungai Mbetsa told The Herald yesterday that the money was ready for disbursement.

He said the money will be paid to 80 percent of the families who had not yet received their dues.

“Government has released $5,906 million to compensate 2 000 families affected by Tugwi-Mukosi dam floods in 2014. These families were settled at Chingwizi in Mwenezi District,” said Mr Mbetsa.

“The money is already in our bank account and is ready for disbursements, once verification of beneficiaries’ banking details or EcoCash account numbers is completed.

“This fund will be paid to about 80 percent of families who have not yet received compensation.

“We will be visiting the communities at Chingwizi to finalise disbursement modalities. However, those who can come to our offices for assistance are free to do so”.

He said a total of $12,7 million was required to compensate the displaced people now settled at Chingwizi.

He said last year they disbursed a total of $2 million to the beneficiaries.

Mr Mbetsa said Government has also made a commitment to pay the few remaining families.

“This is good news for Chingwizi families and Masvingo province,” he said.

He said the money would help the beneficiaries construct permanent structures and finance their farming activities.

Mr Mbetsa said Government had allocated each family a one hectare plot and they will soon benefit from the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam water, once the masterplan has been finalised by the Infrastructural Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ).

“In actual fact all those displaced from Tugwi-Mukosi will be given priority in the projects and that is Government’s position,” said Mr Mbetsa.

More than 3500 families were evacuated from Tugwi-Mukosi dam in 2014 at the height of raging floods and were settled in Chingwizi, Mwenezi.