Mutare (New Ziana)- Light, sporadic rains, remnants of a weakened tropical storm Freddy, pounded several areas of Manicaland Province on Sunday and Monday, but officials said no loss of life or major damage to property and infrastructure had been reported.

The storm had heightened fears of possible widespread loss of life and heavy damage to infrastructure as happened when Cyclone Idai hit the country a few years ago.

But tropical storm Freddy lost much of destructive power over the Mozambican channel where it anchored for a prolonged period over the weekend.

Officials in Manicaland Province, where cyclones always cause the worst damage because of its close proximity to Mozambique, said the tropical storm only brought light, sporadic rains, with Chipinge district receiving the highest amount at 13mm.

Provincial Affairs secretary, Edgar Senza, who heads the region’s civil protection committee, said only minor damage had been caused to buildings in some areas by strong winds that accompanied the rains.

“I am actually going around the province checking on the current status. Some parts of the province such as Chimanimani, Hotsprings and Chipinge had quite substantial showers. A few houses and school buildings were affected by strong winds but no major damages have been reported as yet,” he said.

The dissipation of the storm brought relief to Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, all of which were predicted to be in its path.

In Zimbabwe, schools were ordered closed in regions where the storm was forecast to affect, and elaborate measures taken by government and local authorities to protect lives and property.

New Ziana