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From George Maponga in Masvingo
Over 300 families had their homes ravaged by a hailstorm which hit Bikita and Chiredzi over the weekend, following heavy rains that have pounded most parts of Masvingo over the past few days.The hailstorm also swept away roofs at several schools and clinics in the two districts where the affected families are in desperate need of help to rebuild their homes.

In Bikita, Zanu-PF district offices at Nyika growth point had their roof swept away.

Masvingo provincial administrator and chairman of the Civil Protection Unit, Mr Felix Chikovo, yesterday said they had appealed for help from donor organisations and the National Civil Protection Directorate to help the affected families.

Mr Chikovo said 125 homes were destroyed by a hailstorm in the Save area of Chiredzi East.

“We are trying to look at how best we can assist the affected families to quickly rebuild their lives and we are concerned that every year it is the same areas that are hit by hailstorms that destroy homes and other infrastructure,’’ said Mr Chikovo.

“At the moment the affected families are busy rebuilding their damaged homes while waiting for assistance from the Civil Protection Unit and other development partners,’’ he said. Hundreds of schoolchildren at Mupinga primary school in Save were left stranded after the hailstorm swept away classroom roofs.