Gwanda storm victims receive building materials
TWO families in ward One, Gwanda North province, whose homes were destroyed by a violent storm last Saturday, received building materials from a humanitarian group, Rebuild Gwanda Ward One Campaign to reconstruct their houses.
he houses were destroyed by a hailstorm which affected over 62 homesteads and classroom blocks at five schools.
Absalom Sibanda of Matsholomotshe, whose family was one of the hardest hit, was saved by a toilet which obstructed the wind. His only house was completely destroyed by the storm.
Other villagers whose homesteads were seriously affected were Mhlonitshwa Moyo of Shortline in Magedleni, who also lost the entire infrastructure at his home. He and his family sought refuge at his neighbours’ homestead.
The Rebuild Gwanda Ward One Campaign is the brainchild of Khumbulani Maphosa, a human rights activist.
The donated materials included cement, roofing sheets, and other building materials to enable the affected families to begin the rebuilding process.
Another organisation, the Community Youth Development Trust volunteered labour to expedite reconstruction as the rainy season approaches.
“The two families that received the donation are the worst affected. The storm destroyed all the buildings and the Moyo family has been staying at the neighbour’s homestead, while the Sibanda family has been staying in a makeshift structure they put up after the storm,” Maphosa said.
“The campaign is also set to mobilise more resources to assist other families and the affected schools. The donated materials were bought courtesy of donations from citizens locally and in the diaspora,” he said.
Ward One councillor Stanford Nkala said many villagers in his ward were affected by the storm.
“Many people are now living in the open. Many houses and huts were damaged. Our fear is that when the heavy rains come some of the houses that were partly damaged will completely collapse,” Nkala said, adding that Plan International had promised to assess the damage and support the rebuilding process.