By Jonah Moyo

Gwanda town was struck by flash floods last week, resulting in widespread damage to its infrastructure. In response, the District Civil Protection Committee quickly mobilised to assist affected families.

Heavy rains, accompanied by a hailstorm, left several houses flooded, ripped roofs off buildings, and rendered roads impassable. Many residents feared for their safety and the safety of their property.

While the Civil Protection Unit awaits technical reports, including Bills of Quantities (BOQs), to determine the full extent of the damage and associated costs, Gwanda Tshitaudze, Member of Parliament F. Moyo, has donated groceries worth $300 to support affected families.

“The Civil Protection Committee, working with the Mayor’s office, has assessed the damage in the affected area and is finalising arrangements for the five families who lost their roofs,” said DDC Moyo.

The CPU has secured accommodation for the affected families.

Rain began falling on Wednesday around 4 p.m., starting as light showers before quickly intensifying into heavy downpours. The deluge caused water to flow into homes and damaged durawalls throughout the area.

One of the victims, Isiah Ngwenya of house number 182 in Spitzkop, lost his home when the hailstorm ripped the roof off his room.

The strong winds ripped off our roof, leaving us exposed to the rainfall. With two rooms directly hit, we were forced to huddle together in the sitting room for the night. It was a harrowing experience, never knowing what would happen next.

As water flowed into the house, we were shocked and dismayed. The sudden flooding was unexpected, and we had thought it would be just another typical rainy day,” he said.

The storm caught Gwanda residents off guard, with many claiming it was the worst rainfall the town had seen in years. Some long-time residents said they had never experienced such heavy flooding since moving to the area.

I have lived in Gwanda for over 10 years, but I have never seen rainfall like this. It was overwhelming. I knew we were prone to flooding in First Avenue, but not in the townships. This experience has taught us a lesson, we need to build stronger homes that can withstand such storms,” Sanelisiwe Nyoni said.

She added that there was a need for improved drainage systems to mitigate future flooding issues.

We witnessed water flowing everywhere, which caused it to run through homes as it followed the natural slope of the land. To prevent such incidents in the future, we urge the Gwanda Municipality to fix the drainage system, allowing water to flow directly to the river rather than into homes,” she said.

Gwanda Town Mayor, Councillor Thulani Moyo, said the council is conducting assessments and will release a final report detailing the impact of the flooding on affected homes.

During the rainy season, the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) recommends prioritising safety through preparation and vigilance. Key tips include staying informed via official weather reports, avoiding flooded rivers, and having an emergency kit ready.