MSD urged to be proactive

THE Civil Protection Unit has called on the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) to timeously alert communities on impeding natural disasters so that they take measures to minimise their effects.

CPU’s deputy director Ms Sibusisiwe Ndlovu said it was critical for service providers to help communities brace for disasters through giving them relevant information on disaster preparedness.

She made the remarks on Monday morning after touring areas where a Form Two pupil was killed while several people were injured and homesteads in Hariyomba (Ward 8) in Mwenezi West were destroyed by hailstorms recently.

Hariyomba is one of the wards where hailstorms, which lasted for two days, left a trail of destruction across Chivi and Masvingo districts.

A total of 160 families had property worth about $30 000 destroyed and were left homeless as a result of the natural disaster.

“My appeal to the department of meteorological services is that they should provide all citizens especially rural communities, where disasters normally occur with relevant information on danger warning signs of natural disasters,” said Ms Ndlovu.

She said the department could also provide communities with radios to readily transmit danger warning signs before the occurrence of disasters in their areas.

Mwenezi District Administrator Ms Rosemary Chingwe said; “We have managed to mobilise some food, tents and buckets to the affected families, though we still need additional support on those issues.

“A total of 160 households were destroyed by the hailstorms resembling a tornado. In Mwenezi West, we had one casualty where a Form Two girl, Rejoice Zano was swept away by the heavy rains and drowned in the small Hariyomba Dam.

“In addition several people were seriously injured after bricks and roofing sheets fell on them,” said Ms Chingwe.