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Government has deployed 15 trucks to evacuate at least 4 400 families in Masvingo’s Chivi district who are facing a threat from floods as Tokwe-Mukorsi Dam is close to overflowing. The families would be moved to the Chingwizi area of Nuanetsi Ranch where others from the area were moved to pave way for the dam construction.

The families live in the basin and downstream of the near-complete mega dam.

The dam would be Zimbabwe’s largest inland water body, with a capacity of 1,8 billion cubic metres and a flood plane straddling over 9 600 hectares when complete.

Civil Protection Unit deputy director Ms Sibusiswe Ndlovu today said at least 400 families needed to be evacuated immediately and a further 4 000 would be moved in due course to avoid being affected by floods.

“Tokwe-Murkosi Dam is apparently rising rapidly and threatening communities within the dam and downstream,” she said.

“The department requires assistance like tents food and other basic needs to assist the affected.”

Speaking after touring the Tokwe-Murkosi flood basin on an AFZ helicopter on Monday, chairperson of the relocation co-ordinating committee and Masvingo provincial administrator Mr Felix Chikovo said 300 families situated about 200 metres from the flood plain would be moved first.

“There is another batch of more than 350 families who are not in immediate danger, but would have to be moved if water continues to rise in the dam and we are putting in place the necessary logistics,” he said.

Mr Chikovo said they warned families to move to higher ground while awaiting relocation.

“We did not anticipate that water levels would rise much and we are now faced with a difficult situation, not because of poor planning, but unpredictably heavy and unprecedented rains,” he said.

“We have already relayed information that affected families should use scotch-carts to move their belongings to higher ground.”

Mr Chikovo warned that relocations would be hampered by the continuing rains.

“The CPU has assured us that they will get some tents from Red Cross and the International Organisation for Migration for makeshift homes of the families we are taking to Chingwizi in the Nuanetsi Ranch,” he said.

“Contractors have opened two outlet tunnels to reduce the dam level, but heavy rains in the catchment area are militating against that effort.”

Floods have hit other parts of the country, destroying homes and infrastructure, and killing at least six people.

Ms Ndlovu said in Gokwe South, three people had died after being struck by lightning, while another person was seriously injured.

The floods also destroyed two classroom blocks, a clinic and eight homesteads.

In the Chadereka area in Muzarabani, two toddlers drowned in a river, while 75 families in Mt Darwin had their homes damaged by windstorms.

Ms Ndlovu said the thunderstorms uprooted power lines in Chilibwe and Siabuwa, resulting in electricity supplies to Binga Centre and Hospital being cut off.