The Sunday Mail
There is a wide misconception that floods are solely a natural happening. But town planning and disaster preparedness are key factors.
Poor town planning and a shambolic drainage system are to blame for the destruction left behind by flash floods which rocked Beitbridge a couple of weeks ago, it has emerged.
About 780 people from Dulibadzimu suburb were left homeless while their food, clothes and other valuables were washed away when the border town was hit by heavy rainfall.
Beitbridge is prone to floods due to its proximity to Limpopo River, but indications are that the town has one of the worst drainage systems in the country which contributed to the disaster.
Sources within Beitbridge Town Council also laid the blame on their superiors for poor town planning, saying the most affected houses were built on the course of Wamulala River.
There is a wide misconception that floods are solely a natural happening. But town planning and disaster preparedness are key factors.
“Floods are a common threat here because we live near the big river Limpopo, and should there be heavy rains here or upstream the river course we experience floods,” said a source in council.
“It is, however, surprising how poor the drainage system in this town is, to add to that we have council allocating stands right in the middle of a river course, can you complain when the floods come.
“Everyone knows we are in a flood zone but just knowing and begging for aid each year is not the solution, the solution is to plan our town in a manner that can cope with the floods.”
Some residents even downplayed the ferocity of the rains, saying it was just a lot of water which didn’t have anywhere else to go due to poor drainage.
When The Sunday Mail Extra visited the town last week the destruction left behind by the floods was still visible.
Apart from damaging houses, the rains also left a trail of destruction along the roads, sewer reticulation systems, the town’s only sports stadium and other social amenities.
A local soccer team, Border Strikers, which recently got promoted into the Premiership, is also in a dilemma after Dulibadzimu Stadium — their home ground — was damaged less than two weeks before the local season starts.
Beitbridge Town Council chairperson Ms Showa Moyo said authorities were working on improving the drainage system in the town.
“Currently we are working on re-opening the drainage system which had been blocked. We are also coming up with a long-term structure of a drainage system which can cope with the floods,” she said. “It is our desire that should the floods come again in the future, the impact will be minimal.”
Ms Moyo’s statements dovetail with those of town secretary Mr Loud Ramakgapola, who last week said US$73 000 had been availed to address issues of drainage in the worst affected areas.
“We are attending to the drainage system. So far, we have availed US$73 000 for drainage while a further US$40 000 has been set aside for the construction works along the Wamulala River, which also passes through the area between the stadium and the district hospital,” he said.
Caterpillars, excavators and council workers could be seen working to open up drainage in various locations of the town.
Urban planners, however, urged the city to come up with a plan tailor-made to contain floods.
Zimbabwe Institute of Regional and Urban Planning president Mr Percy Toriro said the floods in Beitbridge were a reminder of how ill-prepared most towns and cities were in the event of disasters.
He said many small towns still relied on old plans that had not been reviewed in a long time. “Small towns sometimes operate without sufficient expertise in town planning. Beitbridge is a key and strategic town and I think it should be equipped in that area,” he said. “Also, our towns, even the big cities, are not well planned and are not alive to the possibilities of floods or other disasters. Harare is one example, just look at what happens in the city when we have heavy rains.”
Other observers say a small problem is now looking like a big issue simply because resources have not been dedicated to drainage in Beitbridge Town.
Nonetheless, flood victims were last week assisted with aid through the district administrator’s office.
Each household received 2kg rice, 1kg salt, a blanket and sanitation kits. They also have been receiving cooked meals courtesy of the council, the DA’s office and other partners.
However, more food is still needed.
“The situation is slowly getting back to normal now but we still need assistance because we do not know for how long shall the people need assistance,” said Mrs Kiliboni Mbedzi, the principal administrative officer in the DA’s office.
“We had been cooking for them every day, council has been availing US$100 per day to help so that food can be prepared for the affected people.”
Beitbridge Senator Cde Tambudzani Mohadi added: “We are happy that the victims have been able to get at least get some food but we still need more assistance. I have told those who are handling the distribution to be fair, we are all Zimbabweans, we are all affected so there should be no favouritism.”
About 240 households were affected while 777 people, 492 adults and 285 children were partly displaced. The people of Beitbridge are still living in fear that the floods could hit again as the weather remains unpredictable.
Flooding is becoming fairly common in Beitbridge and in 2013 numerous villagers were stranded after their homes were destroyed by incessant rainfall.
. . . as GMB defies Govt grain directive
Extra Reporter
Vulnerable households in Beitbridge district say they are being made to contribute money to buy maize from the Grain Marketing Board as opposed to the Government directive that food-insecure families get food aid for free.
Government recently made an arrangement for people in drought affected areas to buy maize from GMB at lower than usual prices, with the vulnerable totally exempted from paying.
Reports are that there are no exceptions in the district, one of the most food insecure in the country, as everyone is being made to pay for the staple maize.
The situation has been made worse by the departure of NGOs that were supporting 2 033 families.
Gogo Khuvhelani Mbedzi (87) of Dosa Village in western Beitbridge said she was struggling as she lives alone and did not have anyone to look after her since she can no longer do much work.
“I am only surviving on sadza and black jack leaves as my relish two times a day. Sometimes I run out of mealie-meal and cannot do anything about it because I stay alone and I cannot work,” she said.
“We haven’t received any food aid here, we are actually being asked to pay so that we get food from GMB. My appeal is that Government should first look at old people like us because we can no longer work for ourselves. My children and grandchildren are in South Africa and they are not in a position to help me.”
Gogo Mbedzi, in hope of making up for the lost season, planted maize a couple of weeks ago after rains graced the area – although there is little hope that the crop will mature.
Chief Sitauze, Mr Daniel Mbedzi, said the situation was dire and aid was immediately needed.
“It is very bad especially for the old and the orphans, we need assistance as soon as we can because the situation is now dire.
“There is no aid, the only benefit people have had is to buy maize at cheap prices but what about the vulnerable that cannot raise the money. The cattle are being sold at very low prices which make it difficult to buy food. So we appeal to Government to prioritise our area as it is one of the most affected.”
Beitbridge Senator Cde Tambudzani Mohadi said the number of people exposed to hunger in the district could have risen after some NGOs pulled out.
