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Thandeka Moyo, Chronicle Reporter
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa will this November hand over completed houses to more than 800 Tsholotsho villagers displaced by floods which hit the area last year.

The affected villagers still have no access to water and toilets while their children walk 20km one way to the nearest Jimila Secondary School.

A total of 859 affected villagers, including six teachers, were sheltered at Sipepa Hospital where a transit camp was set up in February last year.

According to the villagers they urgently need a police base within the community as criminals are benefiting from the accommodation arrangements.
Speaking during a tour of the area on Friday, Minister of State for Matabeleland North Richard Moyo said Government was only left with construction of 69 homes.

“We are happy that there is progress in terms of constructing homes for our affected villagers. So far 319 have been constructed and we are only left with 69 homes,” said Minister Moyo.

“We are also working on ensuring that they have toilets and a clinic soon as President Mnangagwa will officially hand over these houses in November.”

Minister Moyo urged villagers to co-operate with Government and avoid returnig to their old homesteads which were destroyed by the floods.

He pledged to engage the officer commanding Matabeleland North Senior Assistant Commissioner Jonathan Chituku on the issue of establishing a police base to curb crime in the area.

A villager, Ms Sibhekaphi Sibanda, said despite developments villagers were in need of food and safety.

“We are no longer safe in this set-up and sometimes we wish we could go back to our destroyed homes. @thamamoe.