The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter—
A VIOLENT hailstorm that hit pockets of Manicaland last Saturday left a trail of destruction as it destroyed buildings and moveable property worth thousands of dollars in Mutasa and Mutare districts.Though villagers had initially celebrated the arrival of the rains after a dry summer spell, the joy was short-lived as the rains turned violent and left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Two households in Manase and Shenje Villages in Ward 11, Mutasa, were struck and razed by lightning, while three other homesteads in Newengo Village in the same ward were completely destroyed by the vicious storm.
About 21 homesteads in the same ward, including Huparani Primary School, had their roofs blown away.
No-one was injured.
The violent storm occurred last Saturday between 10am and 12pm.
In Mutare District, the hailstorm also blew off the roof of Claire Mission Secondary School, leaving the authorities at the United Methodist Church-run institution in a quandary and appealing for assistance to repair the damage.
The hailstorm also destroyed the roof of St Makebo School in Marange as well as nearby houses.
Mutasa Rural District Council chief executive officer, Mr George Bandure, confirmed the development on Wednesday, adding that villagers were complaining of starvation after their food and other belongings worth thousands of dollars were destroyed and washed away in the disastrous hailstorm.
The affected families have not received any help.
An official report has since been made to the Civil Protection Unit and an SOS to development agencies operating the district.
Mr Bandure said the families required tents, food, inputs and clothes, among other things.
“The homesteads of Mr Rukweza Bhebhe of Manase Village and one Mrs Ndlovu of Shenje Village in Ward 11 in Mutasa District were struck by lightning following a violent hailstorm last Saturday.
“The hailstorm went on to destroy three other homestead belonging to one Mwamuka, one Chimbo and one Kachukira – all of Newengo Village, in the same ward.
“The situation is dire and there is need for all our partners to chip-in and help these families. So far no help has been rendered to the families, meaning they still have no roofs over their heads at a time the rains continue to pound.
“Their needs and priorities are not uniform, and we therefore need food, while others need tents, blankets, agriculture inputs as well as building materials to construct new structures. The assistance can also be financial,” said Mr Bandure.
