VILLAGERS in the remote District of Mbire are picking up the pieces after Tropical Storm Ana left a trail of destruction with at least four bridges extensively damaged while roads are in need of repair.
The villagers gathered at Mushumbi Grain Marketing Board Depot (GMB) in Mbire,to receive food aid as government and corporates have chipped in with maize meal and sorghum grain after tropical storm Ana devastated the remote location.
The storm destroyed crops, flooded homes and tore down roads and bridges.
Villagers who spoke to ZBC News explained how the disaster affected their lives and expressed appreciation towards government for chipping in with food aid.
“The challenge of floods has resulted in hunger , but I thank the benevolence of Legislator Douglas Karoro who has donated maize meal to us,” said one villager.
The District Civil Protection Unit faced with the daunting task of repairing roads is in need of more support and resources.
Mbire Legislator Honourable Douglass Karoro highlighted food aid cannot be distributed to areas where there is critical need as four major bridges were destroyed.
“With that in mind we are appealing to the District Development Fund to help us repair the bridges, the major challenge I see is that schools are opening next week and children will fail to cross and go to school. We are also urging kids not to cross flooded rivers,” he said.
Honorable Karoro appealed for people not to cross flooded rivers and for parents to look after children in light of crocodile infested rivers like Hunyani and Msengezi .
Chitsungo area which lost two adjoining bridges Dande connecting it to Mushumbi and Karai connecting it to Mahuwe appear worst affected by the floods in addition to several houses being destroyed.
The other two bridges which were destroyed are Mukumbi and Bwazi.
Meanwhile 13 families are living in schools in Ward 9 and 11 depending on aid from the government.
ZBC
