Savious Madanhire
The Midlands Province has been severely affected by the recent floods that have ravaged Zimbabwe, leaving a trail of destruction and displacement in its wake.
According to reports, 433 households in the province have been affected by the floods, with many families left homeless and without access to necessities like food, water, and sanitation.
Across the nation, 118 schools and 13 health facilities have been impacted, leaving communities struggling to access critical services.
Zvishavane, a town in the Midlands Province has been affected by floods causing widespread damage to infrastructure, including schools and homes. Amongst the damaged infrastructure, a storm on January 11 ravaged Muponjane Primary School making it one of the most affected institutions now left with classroom shortage, with repair costs estimated at $8,120.
Furthermore, In Mberengwa another district in the Midlands Province, two miners lost their lives when a mine shaft collapsed due to the heavy rains. The incident highlights the risks faced by artisanal miners in the province, who often work in precarious conditions.
Additionally, the floods have also resulted in the tragic loss of life, including the drowning of many people in the Midlands, among them juveniles who were swept away by the raging waters. The heavy rainfalls filled pools of water in man-made pits, gullies and nearby streams, posing a deadly threat to unsuspecting children.
The floods have also disrupted economic activity in the province, with many shops mainly in the rural areas being forced to close due to the damage caused by the floods.
The Midlands Province is one of the hardest-hit areas in Zimbabwe, and the floods have exposed the vulnerability of the province’s infrastructure and communities to natural disasters.
Meanwhile, other incidents related to the floods have been reported in other parts of the country. In Hwedza, three miners died when a mine shaft collapsed on December 27, and their bodies were recovered a week later.
In Mudzi District, three miners remain trapped underground despite ongoing rescue operations. In Harare’s Mbare suburb, flash floods submerged homes on January 8, exposing long-standing drainage problems.
Lastly, a storm in Avonda Farm, Mashonaland Central, displaced 11 households and destroyed homes on January 7.
Across Zimbabwe, 15 people died and 785 households were displaced by the heavy rains.
