Source: Even politicians will not divide us – DailyNews Live
Editorial Comment 23 March 2019
ZIMBABWE is currently battling to come to terms with Cyclone Idai-induced
devastation and politicians have conveniently taken advantage of the
obtaining human suffering to score cheap political goals.Regardless, it is pleasing that Zimbabweans have demonstrated a rare sense
of unity by donating to assist their brethren affected by the devastating
cyclone.Over 100 people were killed in the natural disaster while an estimated 300
are missing and hundreds went homeless after their homes were destroyed.
Very few people have cared to think about the livestock – cattle, goats,
donkeys, sheep and poultry – that have always been an important measure of
wealth by rural standards. Also destroyed was Manicaland’s beaming flora,
wildlife species as Cyclone Idai swept through the country’s eastern
province.The cyclone, which hit Zimbabwe – Chimanimani District of Manicaland
Province in particular is one of the worst to affect the country in recent
years. However, Zimbabweans from all over the country and other people
from across the country’s borders came with an assortment of food and
other items to assist the victims.
As the cyclone’s intensity dropped, we witnessed a number of politicians
trekking down to the province in what can only be viewed as publicity
stunts.It is important for people to view this for what it is – political
grandstanding. Cyclone Idai remains a natural calamity, a disaster in
which the affected need assistance the most and may not have any interest
in the political narrative being pushed by these politicians.There is no way politics will be able to divide us as a people if the
togetherness shown in the cyclone response continues in our people.Politicians are simply out there to sway us to their side and it explains
why they even take advantage of catastrophes like Cyclone Idai, where
lives have been lost and livelihoods destroyed.We seldom see these politicians when the time for reconstruction comes to
try and make things work again for the people in Chimanimani because they
will know that they have to part with resources in order to bring normalcy
to the affected areas.
The roads that have been destroyed, power and communications
infrastructure, bridges, schools among other things will need to be put up
again.The biggest lesson perhaps is that in future information on impending
natural disasters must be communicated to the remotest outpost in our
country before evacuation processes begin to save lives of both people and
livestock.
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