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GOVERNMENT has moved to allay fears of a volcano eruption in Bikita, Masvingo and a dam wall collapse following earlier fears of the two disasters waiting to strike. There were social media reports Sunday of [...]

Harare – Zimbabwean authorities began evacuating residents from the cyclone-hit town of Chimanimani on Sunday after flood waters weakened a dam wall. The area is among those hit by cyclone Idai, which has left more [...]

Source: Fresh floods loom in Manicaland | Newsday (News)

BY KENNETH NYANGANI/BLESSED MHLANGA

A FRESH disaster looms in Manicaland after Provincial Affairs minister Ellen Gwaradzimba warned yesterday that one of the province’s largest dams in the mountainous Vumba area could breach, putting to risk the lives of over 400 living downstream.

The Mwayera Dam was extensively weakened following the Cyclone Idai deluge nearly two week ago that left hundreds of people dead and thousands homeless in Chimanimani, Chipinge, Masvingo and parts of Midlands provinces.

The heavy downpour left Manyera Dam in Vumba weakened and engineers have since been dispatched to the area where over 400 people living near and around the dam
may be displaced as a precautionary measure.

Thirty families located in the vicinity of the dam have been asked to relocate to higher ground, while engineers monitor the dam wall.

“I am told that Manyera Dam in Vumba has shown some signs of distress which could affect people who are living in the downstream. We discussed the matter in a meeting yesterday night (Saturday),” she said.

The development comes after 259 people have been confirmed dead and 217 unaccounted for, while over 16 000 households have been displaced by Cyclone Idai-induced floods south of Vumba in Chimanimani and Chipinge.

Gwaradzimba said she had since tasked Mutare district administrator Wilson Boore to identify alternative land to relocate the families in the dam’s vicinity.

“We have sent a team of water engineers to assess the situation. We have alerted at least 31 families who are living downstream who are most likely to be affected,” Gwaradzimba said.

“In fact, throughout the province we are expecting to move people who are living downstream (of dams). We draw a lesson from the Tugwi-Mukosi (dam) issue in Masvingo. We are also very aware that some people will refuse to be moved from their areas, but as government we are going to force them.”

The Manicaland Provincial Department of Civil Protection yesterday sent short text messages on mobile network platforms alerting the public of the impending possible disaster.

“Manyera Dam wall in Vumba has weakened and all those downstream are advised to evacuate and go to higher places. Please, if you have relatives in this area pass on this message at once. In case of emergency dial 111 or 112,” the message read.

But, farmers from Burma Valley who were on the ground with the engineers who designed the dam dismissed the threats, saying the dam wall was stable and posed no threat to the community.

They said the part of the dam which was damaged was a special check dam designed to be damaged in case of floods to protect the dam wall.

“Manyera Dam has a small section of its wall designed to wash away in the case of flooding to prevent damage to the main dam wall – think of it like the fuse in your house. This narrow brickwall has been damaged, as intended, which will prevent the main wall from collapsing,” a farmer who refused to be named said.

The Information ministry later revoked the early warning, saying it had been issued without verifying the information.

“We have been informed that checks by engineers have confirmed that both Witchood and Manyera dam are structurally safe. The earlier cautionary announcement is withdrawn. We thank the agencies for acting on this in a timely manner and avoided unnecessary disruption,” the ministry said.

However, human rights activist Farai Maguwu yesterday described government’s disaster preparedness as shambolic.

“I think there is no commitment by the government to help people who are living near the dam. They have just simply said that people should move to higher ground. They did the same thing in Chimanimani and Chipinge where we have lost lives. They sent a message on Twitter and the majority people in the areas are not on Twitter. Loss of lives could have been avoided if the government was serious,” he said.

MDC-Alliance Manicaland spokesperson Trevor Saruwaka weighed in, accusing the Zanu PF administration of disrespecting the sanctity of human life.

“Remember, we are talking about an illegitimate government which doesn’t care. We have a government which clearly fails to carry out its mandate. I don’t think this government will be forgiven in future,” he said

Chimanimani East Zanu PF legislator Joshua Sacco has, meanwhile, described his recent booing by some villagers in the constituency as politically-motivated after he was accused of peddling falsehoods during Cyclone Idai disaster.

Sacco was, however defended by both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga when he was booed by angry villagers during an address at Chimanimani’s Skyline on Wednesday.

Sacco was accused of lying on State television that students from St Charles Lwanga School had been rescued, when they were still marooned and desperate for help.

“Those people who booed me are supporters of former legislator in the constituency, Samuel Undenge. I was aware before that this was going to happen, but all this thing is politically-motivated,” Sacco said.

“How do we prevent this (flood disaster) from happening again? Let’s look at reforestation, so that we can prevent such floods and the other issue is water harvesting for domestic use. We should have more dams that can break the flow of water. We should harvest water for domestic use and irrigation. The Umvumvumvu bridge, in ward 22 can be used for irrigation and it can supply Chayamiti and Nyanyadzi respectively,” he added.

weakened and engineers have since been dispatched to the area where over 400 people living near and around the dam
may be displaced as a precautionary measure.

Thirty families located in the vicinity of the dam have been asked to relocate to higher ground, while engineers monitor the dam wall.

“I am told that Manyera Dam in Vumba has shown some signs of distress which could affect people who are living in the downstream. We discussed the matter in a meeting yesterday night (Saturday),” she said.

The development comes after 259 people have been confirmed dead and 217 unaccounted for, while over 16 000 households have been displaced by Cyclone Idai-induced floods south of Vumba in Chimanimani and Chipinge.

Gwaradzimba said she had since tasked Mutare district administrator Wilson Boore to identify alternative land to relocate the families in the dam’s vicinity.

“We have sent a team of water engineers to assess the situation. We have alerted at least 31 families who are living downstream who are most likely to be affected,” Gwaradzimba said.

“In fact, throughout the province we are expecting to move people who are living downstream (of dams). We draw a lesson from the Tugwi-Mukosi (dam) issue in Masvingo. We are also very aware that some people will refuse to be moved from their areas, but as government we are going to force them.”

The Manicaland Provincial Department of Civil Protection yesterday sent short text messages on mobile network platforms alerting the public of the impending possible disaster.

“Manyera Dam wall in Vumba has weakened and all those downstream are advised to evacuate and go to higher places. Please, if you have relatives in this area pass on this message at once. In case of emergency dial 111 or 112,” the message read.

But, farmers from Burma Valley who were on the ground with the engineers who designed the dam dismissed the threats, saying the dam wall was stable and posed no threat to the community.

They said the part of the dam which was damaged was a special check dam designed to be damaged in case of floods to protect the dam wall.

“Manyera Dam has a small section of its wall designed to wash away in the case of flooding to prevent damage to the main dam wall – think of it like the fuse in your house. This narrow brickwall has been damaged, as intended, which will prevent the main wall from collapsing,” a farmer who refused to be named said.

The Information ministry later revoked the early warning, saying it had been issued without verifying the information.

“We have been informed that checks by engineers have confirmed that both Witchood and Manyera dam are structurally safe. The earlier cautionary announcement is withdrawn. We thank the agencies for acting on this in a timely manner and avoided unnecessary disruption,” the ministry said.

However, human rights activist Farai Maguwu yesterday described government’s disaster preparedness as shambolic.

“I think there is no commitment by the government to help people who are living near the dam. They have just simply said that people should move to higher ground. They did the same thing in Chimanimani and Chipinge where we have lost lives. They sent a message on Twitter and the majority people in the areas are not on Twitter. Loss of lives could have been avoided if the government was serious,” he said.

MDC-Alliance Manicaland spokesperson Trevor Saruwaka weighed in, accusing the Zanu PF administration of disrespecting the sanctity of human life.

“Remember, we are talking about an illegitimate government which doesn’t care. We have a government which clearly fails to carry out its mandate. I don’t think this government will be forgiven in future,” he said

Chimanimani East Zanu PF legislator Joshua Sacco has, meanwhile, described his recent booing by some villagers in the constituency as politically-motivated after he was accused of peddling falsehoods during Cyclone Idai disaster.

Sacco was, however defended by both President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga when he was booed by angry villagers during an address at Chimanimani’s Skyline on Wednesday.

Sacco was accused of lying on State television that students from St Charles Lwanga School had been rescued, when they were still marooned and desperate for help.

“Those people who booed me are supporters of former legislator in the constituency, Samuel Undenge. I was aware before that this was going to happen, but all this thing is politically-motivated,” Sacco said.

“How do we prevent this (flood disaster) from happening again? Let’s look at reforestation, so that we can prevent such floods and the other issue is water harvesting for domestic use. We should have more dams that can break the flow of water. We should harvest water for domestic use and irrigation. The Umvumvumvu bridge, in ward 22 can be used for irrigation and it can supply Chayamiti and Nyanyadzi respectively,” he added.

The post Fresh floods loom in Manicaland appeared first on NewsDay Zimbabwe.

The post Fresh floods loom in Manicaland appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: UN avails helicopter for food distribution | Herald (Top Stories)

Cletus Mushanawani in Mutare
THE United Nations has availed a helicopter to Zimbabwe with a capacity to carry three tonnes to speed up the food distribution process in areas ravaged by Cyclone Idai.

Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, July Moyo, confirmed the development and said World Food Programme would set up a tent at Mutare Aerodrome where the food would be carried from for distribution in Chimanimani and Chipinge.

“We have been briefed by the UN system that a helicopter is headed for Mutare. They will be working with Air Force of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe National Army to reach out all areas that are still inaccessible.

“The food is there, but our major challenge is transport. Our helicopters can only carry up to a tonne of grain and this was quiet taxing to reach out to as many people as possible. By yesterday, we had reached out to 26 centres in Chimanimani,” he said.

Minister Moyo said the District Development Fund had opened a new road leading to Biriiri High School and a 10-tonne truck was dispatched with foodstuffs to bail out the stranded learners.

“We swiftly responded to distress calls from Biriiri High School who were having challenges in sourcing food for their about 600 students and DDF intervened by opening a road to the school.

“We were targeting to reach Ngangu by road as of Saturday, but unfortunately it rained and the two 4×4 trucks which had advance teams were stuck in the mud. We will continue with our efforts to ensure that all those affected by the cyclone’s needs are catered for,” he said.

Minister Moyo said they had also airlifted large quantities of medicine.

“The medicine was dropped at all clinics by our helicopters. Most of the health facilities received up to three months supplies,” he said.

Minister Moyo said the temporary shelters brought into the country from the United Arab Emirates would assist in housing people who were sleeping in classrooms.

“Some villagers were sleeping in classrooms and we want families to stay together and the temporary shelters from UEA will come in handy.

“We also want learning to continue in these schools because children cannot lose out on their education,” he said.

Some of the areas that have benefitted from the food aid include Copa, Ngangu, Mutambara High School, Lydia Chimonyo High School, Chikukwa Clinic, Kushinga Primary School, Tilbury, Rusitu, Ndima, Mutambara Hospital as well as Paidamoyo in Chipinge.

The post UN avails helicopter for food distribution appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

LEGISLATORS Mr Temba Mliswa and Cde Dexter Nduna will no longer chair parliamentary portfolio committees after they were stripped of the honour last Thursday. They almost fought in the chamber last month. Mr Mliswa is legislator for Norton while Cde Nduna represents Chegutu West on a Zanu-PF ticket. Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob […]