Story by ZBC News Reporters
Flash floods have left a trail of destruction in various parts of the country, with several families stranded and cut off from social services.
In Harare, hundreds of residents in Budiriro 5 Cabs Area have been cut off from critical services, as rising water levels have flooded homes and destroyed pathways.
Families have been left exposed, homes destroyed and a huge quantity of property swept away.
Another rude awakening to authorities who have allowed residents to build on wetlands, the flash floods in Budiriro suburb of Harare have again brought to the fore the effects of what others have termed ‘recklessness’ in the allocation of residential stands.
Representatives of residents in the capital city said it is unfortunate that people are at the receiving end of poor planning and greediness on the part of those who allocated them residential stands.
“It is unfortunate that people were settled in wetlands and water pathways, with allocators pocketing lots of cash. The lessons that can be drawn from the situation is that council needs to up its game and avail well serviced stands and properly surveyed areas,” said the Harare Residents Trust director, Mr Precious Shumba.
Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume admitted the anomaly, saying they are working on reversing the approval of some residential stands in affected areas.
“The prevailing situation has left many homeless. So, the immediate move we have taken is to evacuate some families to schools where the CPU are giving them food. We understand that some were settled regularly, we have identified space to take them and give them proper space but then others settled irregularly, and they will be evicted from there. Service provision over the past 20 years has been getting worse by each day, it has been on a downward trajectory in provision of water, refuse collection which we need to reshape as we go.”
Most families are bearing the brunt of the harsh weather ushering in flush floods, a result of burst banks on the Marimba River.
“The situation is just bad. Houses have been destroyed. We cannot live in our houses,” a Budiriro resident told the ZBC News.
Some are brave enough to pass through these waters. They have been left with very little choices but to risk their lives as they pursue their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, in the Midlands Province, travellers woke up with no road as the heavy rains swept away Sesame Bridge, a key infrastructure that connects Gokwe North and South Districts while several villagers were left counting losses.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube said, “Our hearts go out to all those who have occurred including a male adult and 3 children who were marooned at an island in Sesame River, Gokwe South district on the 28 December 2023 while herding cattle, fortunately, the children were able to move to a safer place when the water subsided. Again, on the 28th of December, a major Bridge in Sesame South and Gokwe North District was damaged resulting in it collapsing and being swept away. Motorists are advised to use the Kadoma route which has an additional 200 kilometres.”
In Mashonaland West province, six people have been marooned along the Munyati River in Hurungwe.
One of the six has since been rescued by his relatives who had to dare the high-water tide and used a canoe to rescue their family member.
