Relief for Gokwe flood victims

THE Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing has started constructing houses and toilets for flood victims in Gokwe North.

The villagers were left homeless after Cyclone Dineo ripped through the country last year.

In an interview yesterday, the district administrator, Mr Robert Muzezewa, said they have started building infrastructure for the flood victims after Civil Protection Unit had carried out an assessment and relocated the victims.

“Civil Protection Unit made an assessment and they decided to relocate the victims of the (2017) floods and we have started building infrastructure for the 14 families at a safer place,” said Mr Muzezewa.

He said they started with the latrines which cost $4 000. Under phase two of the programme, they would build houses with the help of Government and were looking forward to completing the project as soon as possible.

The district administrator added that they had held an awareness campaign where they educated villagers on how to protect themselves against floods.

Mr Muzezewa said there was need to capacitate the district’s Civil Protection Unit with resources to enable a quick response to disasters such as flooding that has become a perennial problem in the district.

He said currently Gokwe North and South districts’ civil protection units were sharing one vehicle which mad it difficult for them to respond swiftly to disasters.

“As a district, we are currently sharing one vehicle with our sister district, Gokwe South. It is very difficult for the district protection unit to respond to any disaster on time because sometimes the vehicle will be in the other district. There is therefore urgent need to capacitate the district Civil Protection Unit with adequate resources like transport,” he said.

He said Gokwe North was susceptible to flooding and infrastructure such as bridges, roads and homes were under threat.

Mr Muzezewa said last week floods destroyed homes and bridges leaving scores of villagers isolated and in need of assistance.

He said though the communication network had greatly improved, poor transport remained a challenge.

“Communities in low-lying areas have undergone training on disaster awareness and they have improved on communicating potential disasters. What remains a challenge is the question of quick response to the prevailing situation,” said Mr Muzezewa.

In separate development, the Zimbabwe Red Cross last week launched Disaster and Risk Management (DRM) training in Silobela.

The training, to be conducted in all schools throughout the country, was meant to prepare pupils for disaster related incidents.

In a speech read on her behalf, Provincial Education Director Mrs Agness Gudo said DRM in school was a necessity.

“I would like to commend the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society for championing these trainings particularly targeting our community members and teachers in local schools. A lot happens in any environment and First Aid skills are vital in minimising harm and risk.

She said the Provincial Education Directorate had given Red Cross the green light to roll out the training as it was in line with the new curriculum.

Mrs Gudo said teachers would be trained on a cluster basis and they would in turn train their pupils.