Lucky strike for villagers as cash uncovered after Idai
● Villagers in the Kopa area of Chimanimani in Zimbabwe are raking in cash and valuables, scavenging through the debris left by the devastating Cyclone Idai.
The “wardrobe savings” being washed up along the cyclone-battered river banks consist mostly of dollars, rands and the new Zimbabwe currency RTGS. Some villagers were lucky to find wads of cash in bags whereas others picked up single notes.
The councillor for Ndima area in ward 23, Alfred Ndima, said it was not surprising that loads of money had been recovered by villagers as the area had many stores and the houses of well-to-do individuals.
More than 200 people were swept away when the Nyahode River flooded at the confluence with the Rusitu River, sweeping away an entire community in Kopa.
In the rest of Zimbabwe, an estimated 100 people died and 250,000 were affected by the cyclone.
“The area near the river was occupied by businesses,” Ndima said. “Also, the people who had houses in the area that was buried under huge boulders had money and some owned businesses. So it was not surprising to hear that people are finding money.”
He said many villagers kept money at home for convenience. “There are often no banks nearby. But others, especially the elderly, don’t feel comfortable using banks so they kept their money under pillows or in wardrobes.”
Local businessman Peter Mtisi, who watched as his wife and other villagers were swept away by the floods, said he had lost all his money and belongings in the flood. “I had properties and cars, but in terms of actual money I lost R120,000, $3,000 and RTGS notes that run into thousands. I guess my loss was someone’s gain. I don’t even know where to start rebuilding my life.
“I am told one of my cars was seen on a tree in Mozambique; one of these days I will go there and see whether it can be retrieved,” said Mtisi.
A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there were a lot of valuables being discovered in the rubble, but people were keeping them for themselves.
“We have people that have suddenly acquired unexplained wealth, but you can’t investigate them if there is no proof the property belongs to someone else,” said the officer.
The Zimbabwe government estimates that damage caused by the cyclone could reach hundreds of millions of dollars, making it one of the most expensive natural disasters on record in the country. The figure includes direct losses from damaged houses, roads and infrastructure.
The Environmental Management Authority has found the area affected to be no longer safe for habitation. According to its report, buildings were either on flood plains, waterways or steep slopes. “Environmentally speaking, the areas affected were either located in environmentally unsound or unstable settlements,” principal research officer Ntando Nondo told the Sunday Times.