Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Met warns of Cyclone Idai | Daily News

Cyclone Idai, which has reportedly killed 10 people in Mozambique is expected to hit the country this evening. In a statement, the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has warned that the tropical cyclone which is currently moving at a speed of 5km per hour is expected to start moistening the country’s dry atmosphere beginning with the eastern highlands.

The cyclone has reportedly been drying out the bulk of Zimbabwe while at the same time inducing a steady cool breeze over the eastern parts of the country namely Manicaland, parts of Masvingo into Mashonaland east.

“If the present speed and trajectory is maintained; it is expected to start moistening the country’s atmosphere beginning with the eastern highlands on Thursday evening March 14. “However due to the nature of systems this path and speed can change drastically,” the statement revealed.

The MSD said it will continue to monitor intensity and trajectory of Idai and advise the public accordingly. Manicaland is tense as it is yet to fully recover from the infrastructural destruction that was caused by Cyclone Eline two decades ago with some washed out bridges still to be repaired.

Locals who were interviewed by the Daily News said they were praying for it to weaken before it gets to the province. “We are just praying that God will spare us this cyclone. We are at our weakest both economically and in terms of food security and the last thing we need is a cyclone,” Joseph Nachipo a local said.

Another Mutare resident Susan Gwara said the country was ill-equipped to handle the cyclone if it fails to weaken. “We are generally never ready for such natural events because very little information has so far been communicated to people who are at risk of suffering the greatest loss,” Gwara said.

In 2017, the country was also hit by cyclone Dineo which killed seven people and left about 130 000 more destitute in neighbouring Mozambique. Violent cyclone Dineo storms swept through southern Africa over two days bringing with them a deluge of rainfall and devastating flash floods in the three regions of Matabeleland, Manicaland and Masvingo.

Tsholotsho District in Matabeleland North was affected the most as some villagers in the Sphepha areas were forced to relocate.
In Bulawayo, the heavy downpour prevented many pupils from going to school, while the high density suburbs of Nkulumane, Emganwini and Cowdray Park reported major flash floods which damaged property.

In Manicaland’s Chimanimani District, torrential downpours also pounded the area, causing rivers to burst. In Chipinge, refugees at the low-lying Tongogara Camp had to be evacuated to higher ground on the same day amid fears that they would drown. .

In 2000, Manicaland experienced its worst floods in living memory when Cyclone Eline left a trail of destruction, including killing more than 136 people and damaging 59 184 houses and huts.

The post Met warns of Cyclone Idai appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Campaign vehicles divide Zanu PF – DailyNews Live

Jeffrey Muvundusi      14 March 2019

Dozens of Zanu PF vehicles that were dished out to provinces ahead of the
2018 elections have become a bone of contention in the second largest city
amid reports that those who were given the vehicles have personalised them
ahead of party work, the Daily News can report.

The President Emmerson Mnangagwa-led party acquired a fleet of Ford
Fiestas, Ford Ranger trucks, and buses ahead of last year’s harmonised
election. All members who contested as members of Parliament, were gifted
with all-terrain vehicles, while position- holding party cadres like
provincial chairs, provincial youth league chairs, women’s leagues chairs
commissars among others were gifted with the branded vehicles.

The party might have spent upwards of US$$60 million in the acquisition of
the vehicles whose source of funding has remained a mystery. However,
while the party has by far exhibited its financial power amid worsening
economic situation, the vehicles have created animosity among party
members.

This reportedly came out during the inter-district meeting chaired by
secretary for administration Obert Mpofu held at provincial headquarters’
Davies Hall, a week before Mnangagwa dissolved the structures of Bulawayo
and Harare.

Party members who attended the meeting told this paper that many
complained about party vehicles which they said have been personalised to
such an extent that they are no longer accessible to other members. “A
number of people raised this issue of vehicles being abused as well as
being personalised by those who have them.

“They argued that vehicles should be readily available to all the party
members. “The other thing is that members complained that most of the time
the vehicles are not being used for party business,” said a senior party
member in the province who preferred anonymity.

Another member who attended the meeting said Mpofu took note of the
problems while assuring everybody that he was going to escalate the matter
to the higher ranks. Both Mpofu and party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo
were not picking their phones yesterday.

The branded vehicles which are now a common feature on the city’s streets
have exposed Zanu PF’s priorities where the ruling party acquired an
astonishingly expensive fleet at a time Zimbabweans are suffering.

The post Campaign vehicles divide Zanu PF appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

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