Hailstorm ravages Beitbridge

BEITBRIDGE District Civil Protection Unit chairperson Mrs Kiliboni Ndou-Mbedzi has said they have started assessing the full damage caused by rains accompanied by strong winds which pounded the district in the last three days.

The rains left a trail of destruction at the border post and many villages in Mtetengwe ward 6.

The strong winds affected the section of the roof of the border post building that houses the arrivals section and the Close Circuit TV (CCTV) control room, while customs clearing agents’ offices and bonded warehouses were also not spared from destruction.

According to a source at the Meteorological Services Department, the district received a total of 25,4 mm of rain on Thursday alone.

Mrs Ndou-Mbedzi said they had also recommended that Government employees at the border post temporarily vacate the buildings which were partially damaged to avoid any unnecessary casualties.

“The damage at the border post is extensive and during our engagement with border authorities we recommended that the workers vacate partially destroyed buildings pending further structural assessments by engineers,” she said.

“We understand that the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority had since dispatched engineers from Harare to check on the damages.”

Mrs Ndou-Mbedzi said though no lives were lost during the border incident, two officers incurred minor injuries.

Beitbridge Border Post is arguably the busiest inland port in the Sadc region and handles an estimated 15 000 travellers, 2 500 light vehicles and 600 trucks daily.

Mrs Ndou-Mbedzi said a total of 10 homesteads were extensively damaged in ward 6 (Mtetengwe) under Beitbridge East constituency.

She said some people were left without homes and food.

“Further, roof tops of the school and clinic in the area were partially blown off by strong winds,” said Mrs Ndou-Mbedzi. “While we map the way forward, in the meantime we are giving the victims water and sanitation facilities, including buckets and soap.”

Beitbridge East legislator Cde Albert Nguluvhe said the incident was unfortunate and that businesses and members of the community should work together with other development agencies in assisting the victims.

“I am out of town, but have been in touch with the local leaders, including the councillors on the issues on the ground,” he said. “It is important that we all work together in helping all those who have lost their valuables, including their homes.”

In separate interviews, villagers from Mtetengwe said it was important for the CPU to increase awareness and education for communities on disaster and risk management issues.

“We are appealing to Government through its agencies to increase education in the communities, especially those susceptible to disasters during the rainy season,” said Mr Ndanduleni Singo. “We are very fortunate that noone has died since the start of the rainy season.”

The Meteorological Services Department recently warned of violent rains in some parts of the country.