The Sunday Mail
Lincoln Towindo in Chivi
Over the last two summers, Chivi has suffered a double tragedy triggered by two contrasting weather phenomenona. An El-Nino-induced drought last year left Chivi a parched near-desert, with people, animals and crops alike yearning for even the smallest drizzle to quench their thirst.
That prayer for rains was answered. With an exclamation point.
A series of floods occasioned by the La-Nina effect and Cyclone Dineo have resulted in rivers bursting at the banks, dams spilling beyond control and people praying now for respite from the deluge.
The heavens have been unrelenting since the rains began late last year, with torrential downpours wreaking havoc.
Bridges have collapsed, roads have become gullies, school buildings have collapsed and clinics have been decimated.
Musavezi River snakes through Chivi and is major source of livelihood for the villagers, their livestock and for wildlife.
But on the evening of Sunday February 26, 2017, the river that has been a source of life morphed into an instrument of destruction.
In Nzviyo Village under Chief Madyangove, Mr Redson Zvidzai lives with his wife and two young children.
For the 35-year-old gold panner who makes a living scavenging for the metal at an abandoned mine near the village, last Sunday began like any other normal day.
After a hard day’s work he was soon sharing village chatter with friends at the local shops before calling it time around 8pm when rain clouds began to gather.
Soon he was with his family at their home a few hundred metres from Musavezi River, preparing to turn in for the night when the first drops of rain fell.
“It started as a light drizzle, but little did we know that these rains would condemn us to homelessness overnight,” Mr Zvidzai told The Sunday Mail.
Having dilligently invested his meagre earnings from his panning job, he had acquired a small herd of goats and built a house.
He had dreams of expanding on his modest investments, but last Sunday those dreams – like those of many other families in the area – were washed away by an angry Musavezi River.
“I woke up around 10pm to realise that the rains had increased in intensity. From outside I could hear the loud cries of the livestock, and water had begun coming from beneath the doors of our home. It was then that I realised that we could be in real danger.”
On stepping outside, Mr Zvidzai immediately realised that the Musavezi had burst her banks and the water level around his homestead was rising fast.
He quickly evacuated his family to higher ground amid the pounding rains and darkness, leaving everything but a few clothes behind.
The rains poured until early Monday morning and for up to 400m around the river, the waters rose and devoured fields, homes and livestock.
Mr Zvidzai’s house was washed away. Six of his goats were not spared.
When The Sunday Mail visited Mr Zvidzai last week, he had found temporary shelter in a tent that constitutes some of the interventions – along with food and medical assistance – provided by Government and its partners.
He is just one of 2 000 people rendered homeless by floods countrywide.
“I don’t even know where to start from. My life has been completely destroyed,” he lamented.
This was the second flood to hit Nzviyo Village in a little over a fortnight, and the residents of this community and their neighbours are afraid that more troubles lie ahead – especially following news that another tropical cyclone is brewing off the Madagascar’s east coast.
Across Chivi’s 32 wards, similar tales of despair and destruction abound.
Maramba Primary school, founded in the early 1960s, lies in ruins. All the blocks of classrooms – bar one – have been declared unsafe for use by pupils and staff.
One roof was completely blown away and the headmaster’s office was not spared, too.
Said school development council chair Mr Crispen Bhonia, “All the blocks except one have been condemned by council and we have been told that pupils should stay away from them lest they collapse.”
With an enrolment of over 300 children, one block is clearly inadequate. But amid this destruction lessons continue owing to the dedication of both staff and pupils.
Nearly all roads in Chivi have suffered and bridges have collapsed. Some areas are totally inaccessible as Musavezi Rive also washed away the old bridge.
According to statistics from Chivi Rural District Council, last Sunday’s storm destroyed 18 houses overnight in one ward alone. In Ward 17 Chikota Dam was breached.
Chivi RDC chairperson Dr Killer Zivhu said, “There has been a lot of damage around Chivi as a result of rains caused by Cyclone Dineo. But even before the Cyclone there was already damage because we had received rainfall that is way above the normal rainfall we receive in other years.
“We already had a lot of damage especially to school and then individual homes. Some schools, including Maramba Primary which was built back in 1964 and most whose buildings have never been renovated, were destroyed.
“We now have a situation at some schools where there is need to pull down all the blocks because they now pose a danger to human life. Because of financial constrains this is going to be a difficult task.”
As of last week, 246 people had been reported killed as a result of flooding while 128 were injured across Zimbabwe.
Government has launched an international appeal for assistance for US$100 million needed to repair damaged infrastructure.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Shuvai Mahofa said Chivi district was the most affected in the province.
“But there has also been extensive damage in areas such as Mwenezi where Lundi was covered by Runde River. We had to evacuate marooned families using helicopters. At the moment we are putting together food, clothing, blankets and other necessities to help the affected people to cope.
“I’m happy to report that the drought relief committee also deals with emergencies of this nature is on top of the situation. We have one death of a child who was killed during a landslide in Bikita.”
Amidst the gloom and destruction, the Chivi community has huddled together to try and rebuild.
Maramba Primary School received a donation of 100 bags of cement from Dr Zivhu and parents have pledged to begin rebuilding the school from this week.
Along Musavezi where a small bridge was partly damaged, local youths have collaborated and are doing their best to bring it back into working condition.
Potholes are also being filled with rubble.
Mr Zvidzai, on his part, remains in the wilderness, having sent his wife and children to more secure lodgings with his relatives. Like the other resilient residents of Chivi, he too will rebuild his house.
