By Staff Reporter
MASVINGO – Masvingo City Council has launched a Trauma Response Care Programme to
provide psychosocial support to residents, particularly learners and teachers, affected by the
devastating hailstorm that struck the city on October 5.
The launch, held at Masvingo City Civic Centre Hall, ran under the theme “Rebuilding Homes,
Healing Minds: Masvingo Rise Together.”
The programme, which commenced on Monday, October 19, 2026, is being implemented
through the Department of Health in partnership with Happynest Counselling Chambers, the
City’s mental health implementing partner, under an existing Memorandum of Understanding.
Speaking at the launch, Mayor Tabe said the storm caused damage to homes and disrupted the
lives of many families, shaking the community’s sense of safety.
“Physical structures can be repaired, but fear and distress may persist if they are not
acknowledged and addressed. Children and adults may respond to a frightening experience in
different ways. Some children may become tearful, irritable, withdrawn or unusually fearful.
Others may struggle to concentrate, sleep or participate in their usual activities,” said Tabe.
The Mayor said these responses should not be mistaken for laziness, indiscipline or weakness,
but signs that a person is struggling to regain a sense of safety.
“We must respond with patience, understanding and appropriate support, not blame or stigma. If
distress is left unaddressed, some people may experience longer-term difficulties, including
anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress symptoms. Children may find learning more
difficult, and families may experience additional strain,” he said.
He said Council would monitor implementation and receive regular reports on schools, teachers
and learners reached, referrals made and lessons emerging from the programme.
“For me, success will mean more than completing scheduled sessions. It will mean that learners
gradually regain confidence, sleep more peacefully, concentrate better and return to learning and
play. It will mean that teachers feel supported, parents know where to seek help, and children
who need further assistance are identified and referred appropriately,” said Tabe.
In his speech, Town Clerk Engineer Mukaratirwa said the Department of Health had identified
psychological trauma as a significant concern following the storm, particularly among learners
across schools.
“A child who is overwhelmed by fear may struggle to learn. A learner who feels unsafe may find
it difficult to participate fully in school activities. This is why providing timely psychological
support is not optional; it is an essential part of our recovery,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
Happynest Counselling Chambers Chief Executive Officer Innocent Mataruse explained the
psychological impact of the storm and the programme’s approach.
“When a storm like this strikes, the damage is not only to roofs. It is to our sense of safety. For
about thirty minutes, families watched something sudden, loud and uncontrollable, and could not
escape it. Children looked to the adults around them, and many saw those adults frightened too.
“Psychology tells us that this is exactly how fear takes root. When we feel in danger and out of
control, the brain’s alarm system stays switched on. A frightened mind spends its attention
scanning for danger, so there is less left for learning. That is why the first sign we see in
classrooms is difficulty concentrating, followed by broken sleep, irritability, withdrawal,
stomach aches and a reluctance to come to school,” said
He said these were normal reactions to an abnormal event, and most people recover with time
and support. However, if left unattended, they could harden into post-traumatic stress, depression
and anxiety, and later push young people towards risky coping mechanisms such as drugs,
alcohol and gambling.
The programme uses a stepped-care approach, Step One focuses on calm, safety and information
for everyone; Step Two involves structured group sessions where learners and staff learn
practical coping skills; Step Three offers brief individual counselling for those whose distress
continues; and Step Four involves referral to psychological, psychiatric or social welfare services
for severe cases.
“Each school receives one day of our time, and each group is given about two hours. The first
session is about stabilizing, feeling safe, understanding common reactions, learning calming
skills and expressing feelings in safe ways. The second session comes four weeks later to
consolidate, to review what has helped, to build each person’s coping plan, and to strengthen the
habit of asking for help,” the CEO explained.
Participation is voluntary, and no child is pressed to retell what happened. Parents and guardians
are informed beforehand and may opt out. Council allocated resources from its Disaster
Management Funds to support the programme, which is being offered at no cost to participating
schools.
The programme targets all council-run and public schools on the City’s register, with separate
sessions for teachers and learners. Learners are grouped by age, Grades 1 to 2, Grades 3 to 4,
Grades 5 to 6, Forms 1 to 2, and Forms 3 and 5, with each school receiving one programme day
with two sessions, the second taking place four weeks after the first.
Urgent cases are attended to within 72 hours. Special attention is being given to learners
preparing for Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6 examinations.
