By Sharon Chimenya
AT least 643 households in Ward 7 of Victoria Ranch under Masvingo Rural District Council have received assistance following heavy rains that left a trail of destruction on Monday.
Ward 7 is the first to benefit as the government rolls out food and material assistance to all those affected by the storm.
Preliminary reports show that 17 000 households were affected, with around 8 500 houses reported to have had roofs blown off or otherwise damaged. More than 90 percent of an estimated 17 000 houses reportedly sustained shattered windowpanes.
Speaking during the handover of food items, which included 50kg of mealie-meal, flour, rice, cooking oil and soap, officials said all vulnerable groups in the wards will benefit.
The government is working with various development partners such as the Red Cross to bring much-needed assistance to the affected households.
“Our government has started moving around, giving food to the victims of the hailstorm that occurred on the 5th of October. Each household is being given food that includes flour, 50kg mealie meal, 10kg rice, soap and tents so that they can move forward until they see that their daily livelihood has returned to normal,” he said.
“The Civil Protection Unit together with development partners such as the Red Cross are moving around giving to every household, to people who are vulnerable. After giving food, an assessment is being done to see which houses were damaged, and they will come again to repair those houses. So we are going ward by ward and today (Saturday) we are in Ward 7 Victoria Ranch where they are distributing food to 643 households.”
Minister Chadzamira said the donations will not be distributed based on any political affiliation; every household that was affected will benefit.
He applauded President Emmerson Mnangagwafor the assistance which, together with different development partners, is being rendered to the affected families.
Following the disaster on Monday, President Mnangagwa declared the destruction caused by the heavy rains and hailstorm a state of disaster.
“These same quantities and commodities will be given in every ward. We want to thank the Second Republic for its commitment to having transparent leadership, a leadership that helps its people. This food has no segregation, it is given to everyone who was affected, it is not about whether I am from the CCC part (Citizens Coalition for Change).”
A Victoria Ranch resident, Kudakwashe Magomana, thanked the government for the assistance, which he said will go a long way as they are also looking for resources to rebuild their homes.
“We want to thank the government for remembering us at this time when we are trying to see how we can rebuild our homes. They have given us food, easing the burden of trying to source for both food and building materials,” he said.
“We want to thank the government as they have promised us that there will be people who will move around to see the extent to which our houses were damaged and they will assist us again to repair things like windows and roofs.”
