Gweru – The Gweru City Council has received donations from well-wishers to benefit about 50 families affected by flash flood which hit the city in recent weeks.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Gweru mayor Josiah Makombe expressed gratitude as the donations came from local well-wishers.

The First Baptist Church, Ward 12 representatives and Nomads golfers joined hands and donated groceries comprising mealie-meal, cooking oil, rice, sugar, blankets and footwear.

“I am very much humbled…When we had the unfortunate flash floods, we could not get any support anywhere and the only people I could reach were yourselves,” Makombe said.

The mayor said the flood victims who would benefit included those that were at Muunga Primary School and Mtapa Community Hall who were evacuated in Ascot, Mambo and Mtapa.

He said other flood victims did not leave their homes.

“Some went to their relatives for refuge,” he said.

Makombe estimated the total number of flood victims at 200, coming from about 50 families.

“The flood victims had their food, medicine and other basics swept away by the raging floods,” he said.

The mayor also commended the oneness in the community of Gweru to reach out to the needy.

Makombe said more needed to be done in settling people as well as construction of the roads.

“This has come as a lesson to the city and local authority…we need to do more on our drainage systems,” he said.

“Those that want to build their houses should not do so on wetlands, but on land that has been approved by the city.”
New Ziana