CPU heeds flood warning

THE Civil Protection Unit (CPU) in Masvingo has strengthened its disaster management teams in all districts, amid flood warning by the Meteorological Services Department.

Most parts of Zimbabwe started receiving heavy rains on Sunday, with some areas receiving in excess of 50mm in 24 hours.

Buffalo Range Airport received about 32mm of rainfall on December 22.

In an interview yesterday, Masvingo CPU provincial chairman Mr Fungai Mbetsa said the disaster management teams were on high alert.

He urged villagers living on low ground to move to high ground when it starts raining. Mr Mbetsa said while there had not been any report of flood- ing, awareness campaigns within flood prone areas were in progress.

“As the provincial CPU, we are not sitting on our laurels,” he said.

“Our teams are on alert for any incident of natural disasters and they are on the ground. I have also come to work waiting for updates from district teams.”

Mr Mbetsa said the district teams had established village disaster preparedness teams comprising villagers who would help report any potential disasters.

“Our district CPU teams also training villagers in disaster preparedness,” he said.

“Communities will be readily available to report to the district teams for onward transmission to the provincial CPU for action.”