File pic of Idai damage in Chimanimani
Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI –
Parliament’s Standing Rules and Order Committee last week aborted their visit to
parts of Chiredzi North due to extremely bad roads that were further damaged by
Cyclone Idai.
Parliament’s Standing Rules and Order Committee last week aborted their visit to
parts of Chiredzi North due to extremely bad roads that were further damaged by
Cyclone Idai.
Many
roads in the constituency were badly damaged by the tropical cyclone thereby
isolating many people from the much-needed help.
roads in the constituency were badly damaged by the tropical cyclone thereby
isolating many people from the much-needed help.
Led
by Senator Tsitsi Muzenda and accompanied by Chiredzi North MP Roy Bhila, the committee
had to abandon part of much of its itinerary because the roads were not
navigable.
by Senator Tsitsi Muzenda and accompanied by Chiredzi North MP Roy Bhila, the committee
had to abandon part of much of its itinerary because the roads were not
navigable.
Other
legislators who were part of the committee were Morgan Komichi, Roy Bhila, Tabitha
Khumalo, Farai Musikavanhu and Aliginia Samson.
legislators who were part of the committee were Morgan Komichi, Roy Bhila, Tabitha
Khumalo, Farai Musikavanhu and Aliginia Samson.
The
cyclone affected mostly Ward 24, Jairezi, where 253 houses were destroyed, according
to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU).
cyclone affected mostly Ward 24, Jairezi, where 253 houses were destroyed, according
to the Civil Protection Unit (CPU).
The
committee, however, only assessed the damage at one roadside home as attempts
to drive their mini bus deeper into communities failed.
committee, however, only assessed the damage at one roadside home as attempts
to drive their mini bus deeper into communities failed.
The
team had to disembark twice and push their vehicle through the mud and gullies
of the shattered road.
team had to disembark twice and push their vehicle through the mud and gullies
of the shattered road.
A
truck carrying relief supplies also got bogged in the mud and had to be towed
out by an army vehicle.
truck carrying relief supplies also got bogged in the mud and had to be towed
out by an army vehicle.
Muzenda
later told TellZim News that during their pre-journey briefing, they had
received wrong information that they were going to be able to travel into
villages.
later told TellZim News that during their pre-journey briefing, they had
received wrong information that they were going to be able to travel into
villages.
“We
were on a mission to visit affected families and their destroyed homesteads but
we failed as roads were impassable. We are however happy that we found an advance
relief team distributing donated goods.
were on a mission to visit affected families and their destroyed homesteads but
we failed as roads were impassable. We are however happy that we found an advance
relief team distributing donated goods.
“We
only managed to visit one homestead by the roadside but we will rely on the
District Administrators (DA)’s data that 253 houses were destroyed. We had been
informed that we could make it into communities by road but only to find that
it was impossible,” said Muzenda.
only managed to visit one homestead by the roadside but we will rely on the
District Administrators (DA)’s data that 253 houses were destroyed. We had been
informed that we could make it into communities by road but only to find that
it was impossible,” said Muzenda.
