…Thousands sleep in the open …. tents are worn out … ..Over 100 families back to flood basin
By Tell Reporter
CHINGWIZI – Over 3000 displaced Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims who were forcibly resettled by government four months ago are living under inhumane conditions, with more than 1000 families living in the open amid reports that the make-shift tents donated to them by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) early this year have worn out.
Investigations by Tell Zimbabwe established that over 100 families returned to their original homesteads at the Tokwe-Mukosi flood basin after government short-changed them and allocated them one hectare per household against the four hectares it initially promised, raising fears that there will be another disaster if the province continue to receive heavy rains.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, confirmed the development but he could not ascertain the number of families that moved back to the dam’s buffer zone before he hastened to say government was reluctant to compensate the Tokwe-Mukosi flood victims.
“Over 3 000 families were permanently resettled from the Chingwizi Transit Camp, however, I heard other families have moved back but I believe they are very few. I am very sure the number is very small, maybe 10 families, so it is something that should not cause alarm.
Kudakwashe Bhasikiti
“The situation of Tokwe-Mukosi floods victims is however worrying and needs urgent attention. Families are living in the open because the tents they received when they were evacuated early this year have worn out. Government is supposed to release $6.8m for compensation and I am going to engage the minister of finance this week. I will continue to appeal to government to release the funds so that people can buy building material and build proper permanent houses.
The minister however, said the province has no form of assistance to give to the flood victims in the event that the government fails to avail the compensation funds in time.
“We have no plan; we have no money and the victims have no money too so they can’t build permanent shelter. We are already in the raining season and we risk losing lives because of poor shelter. It is the cry of my heart that government release the funds so that the victims build proper homes. If we all prioritise the lives of people at Chingwizi, $6.8m is not a lot of money because it will save lives of thousands of people,” Bhasikiti added.
Various reports that were released by human rights organisations said the families endured several human rights violations during their stay at the Chingwizi transit camp.local
