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Members of the Air Force and police evacuate Tsholotsho flood victims in this file photo

Thandeka Moyo, Chronicle Reporter
A TOTAL of 234 Tsholotsho households who were recently displaced by floods have agreed to relocate to Sawudeni Village where 94 stands have already been pegged to accommodate them.

Speaking after receiving $1 000 worth of groceries from the Bulawayo Legal Practitioners Association (BLPA), Tsholotsho district administrator Ms Gladys Zizhou said more resources were needed to help the affected families build new homesteads.

“We have managed to get positive feedback from 234 households from 289 who have agreed to relocate to a safer village. So far we have finished pegging 94 stands and we hope to continue helping them out and we have engaged traditional leaders to talk to the affected families,” said Ms Zizhou.

She commended Bulawayo lawyers for the donation urging other organisations to follow suit.

“We have a needs assessment report and one of the greatest needs is tents to house victims as big families are forced to share one tent.”

BLPA donated sanitary pads, mealie-meal, sugar, soap, cooking oil, beans, matches, salt and clothing.

Its president Mr Christopher Dube-Banda pleaded with Ms Zizhou to ensure that the donations reached intended beneficiaries.

“We were touched by the plight of Tsholotsho victims whose homesteads were destroyed by the rains. We have also realised the same place has had such challenges every time there is lots of rain hence the need to come up with a permanent solution,” said Mr Dube-Banda.

“This donation is from lawyers who heard the cries in Tsholotsho and resolved to contribute something to alleviate the suffering. We are greatly concerned especially about the children who are the future.”

The victims, numbering 857, were evacuated to Sipepa Clinic last month and have been staying there due to the threat posed by floods.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde Saviour Kasukuwere recently said as a long term solution, the Government was working on modalities to relocate the victims to high ground to avert future disasters.

“The Government has resolved that, as a long term plan, we must move our people to higher ground in an area that has been identified by the local authority.

“We have agreed with the local chief and we are now mobilising the Government departments, council and other stakeholders including the community so that we build permanent structures.

“Some of those who were affected by the floods are old people and they need to go back to their normal lives. We will bring on board the Civil Protection Unit and some of our partners,” he said.

The minister said the Government would continue to monitor the situation in Tsholotsho.

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