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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
One person was injured while 170 schoolchildren and three families were left stranded when strong winds coupled with the rains destroyed homesteads and blew away roofing sheets at two schools in Ward 14 and 18, Mwenezi East. The winds, which left a trail of destruction at Rutenga Growth Point, resulted in two vehicles, one belonging to Rutenga Primary School head and senior lady being extensively damaged.

In Ward 14 at Mangondi Primary School, 48 iron sheets were blown away from teachers’ houses while nine iron sheets were removed from Blair toilets.

Mwenezi District Civil Protection Unit chairperson Ms Rosemary Chingwe said the incident occurred on Thursday at around noon and CPU was mobilising resources to salvage the situation.

“Mwenezi district was caught off-guard by a violent storm and whirlwind resulting in massive destruction on infrastructure in Ward 18 and Mangondi area in Ward 14,” said Ms Chingwe.

Ms Chingwe, who is also Mwenezi district administrator, said the heavy winds and rains affected a school, churches, Government institutions, community and churches.

“We had one person, a female adult, injured during the mishap while eight homesteads were affected of which three were left inhabitable.

“At Rutenga Primary three classrooms were affected where 33 asbestos sheets were blown away while six zinc sheets were removed from the Blair toilets with a gable of a completed block collapsing.

“Three HP laptops, one Mercer desktop, one HP printer and one Kyocera photocopier were also damaged by the rains. One hundred and seventy-four schoolchildren were left stranded after their classrooms were damaged,” she said

She said at least four Government offices were also affected and that include Department of Veterinary Services, Department of Registry, the National Railways of Zimbabwe, Mwenezi Rural District Hall and Zimbabwe Republic Police camp house which had roofs blown off and window panes shattered.

Masvingo provincial administrator, Mr Fungayi Mbetsa, who is also CPU provincial chairman, said the teams were on the ground to assist those affected by natural disasters.

“Our disaster management teams are on the ground to assist in such circumstances. Non-government actors such as Zimbabwe Red Cross Society are handy in helping us mobilise the shelter including food items, to help the situation. Communities are being educated on how to react in times of natural disasters,” said Mr Mbetsa.

Rutenga Primary School head Mr Tennyson Mukapa appealed for intervention since the rainy season had started and could cause more destruction on affected infrastructure at the school.