About 26 Manzini schools inaccessible
MBABANE – Around 26 schools in the Manzini Region were inaccessible due to the heavy rains that were experienced in the country from last week.
Data that was collected by Baphalali Eswatini Red Cross Society (BERCS) shows that slippery gravel roads and flooded rivers prevented around 26 schools in the region from operating since last Thursday.
Most of all these schools are located along steep gravel roads, which are normally hard to navigate during rainy days. These are located under Kukhanyeni, Ngwemphisi, Mkhiweni, Mtfongwaneni, Kwaluseni, Nkomiyahlaba and Ntondozi constituencies.
Extreme
Under Mkhiweni consotuency the schools that had to suspend classes due to the extreme weather were Malunge High School, Nkiliji High School, Mphembekati Primary, Salukazana Primary and Bhekinkosi Primary School to name a few.
They were affected by the flooding of four rivers which were the Mbuluzane, Mgonyane, Salukazi and Mpola Rivers.
The data further showed that some pupils in the Hhohho Region could not access their schools because of the flooded rivers.
Baphalali also revealed that under the Nkhaba Inkhundla, the Mbuluzi River at Mahebedla Umphakatsi was overflowing and residents could not cross to Mbuluzi Primary and other schools around that area. Sitjeni Primary School in Lobamba was unreachable for some pupils because of the flooded rivers.
Furthermore, five schools in the Lubombo Region, according to Red Cross, were interrupted mostly due to damaged roads.
These were Vuvulane Primary and High Schools, and Tambankulu Primary.
These areas have alternative routes, which could be used while the main one was being fixed, but the alternatives routes pass through rivers and may be dangerous for younger pupils.
For Nkalashane Primary and High Schools the challenge was that the children were unable to reach school because of the damaged main road leading to the school.
In the Shiselweni Region, almost all schools located along gravel roads were affected.
According to the data BERCS received from the Regional Education Offices (REOs) 215 schools, which included 142 primary and 73 high schools, with an estimated population of 43 000 learners were affected.
“Most feeder gravel roads in the Shiselweni Region are not accessible due to their slippery condition and some have damaged bridges. The exact extent of the damages was not ascertained due to accessibility issues.”
Damaged
Furthermore, under Ngudzeni Inkhundla, a bridge was reportedly damaged and access to a number of public services was interrupted.
Besides roads and flooded rivers, people lost their homes after several structures collapsed.
In the Hhohho Region, 80 people were affected due to 14 collapsed structures.
Three houses collapsed in the Shiselweni Region including a Jericho church at Kaphunga.
BERCS Communications Officer Nontobeko Mbuyane said their teams were already on the ground responding to the situation.
“We are currently conducting assessments to ascertain the type of aid we will provide to those affected,” she said.