300 people stranded after hail storm

Sharon Chikowore

THREE hundred people were affected as families were left homeless and institutions
destroyed by a hail storm that hit parts of Kadoma last week.
The rains were heavy, with strong winds, which caused electricity poles to fall, roads were
flooded with water, leading to loss of property and houses and injuring many.
Based on the preliminary assessment conducted by the District Civil Protection team, 51
houses in Pixie Combie, 20 houses from Imperani Farm and three Westview houses were
destroyed.
Institutions including Jameson High School, where one hostel roof was blown off, were also
destroyed although no one was injured.
At Rimuka 2 High School, the roofing sheets of a metalwork laboratory was blown away,
leaving four asbestos damaged. At Chedonje Primary School, one classroom block had its
roof partly blown away. At Rimuka 1 High School, Waverley Primary School five blocks had
their roofing sheets ripped off. Kadoma General Hospital too, was hit by the hailstorm.
Several people were injured, especially young children. Some sustained deep cuts from the
roofing material, which was blown away and from the bricks as some houses collapsed.
Some of the houses which were destroyed were at different levels of construction and it
seems many of the buildings were not strong enough to withstand the storm.
Mashonaland West Civil Protection Department chairman and Permanent Secretary for
Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Josphat Jaji, tasked Council to be strict when inspecting
and approving houses being constructed because, he said, they were poorly constructed.
An estimated 200 tents are needed for shelter, while food assistance amounting to five tonnes
of maize is required urgently.