FLOODS HIT TSHOLOTSHO AND TOKWE-MUKOSI.

Who would have thought that ethical differences between the Shona and Ndebele could have such effects even after so many years? The Gukurahundi genocide left scars on the people of Matebeleland. A lot of people lost their loved ones from the genocide. From then, the Shona people were deemed to be superior to the Ndebele people of Matebeleland. Even so there is still that gap between the Shona and the Ndebele speaking people. As of late the floods that have hit the two parts of Zimbabwe have been dealt with differently. The Tokwe-Mukosi incident of Masvingo was declared a national disaster while the Tsholotsho floods have been given less attention. Priority was given to Masvingo floods more than it was given to Matebelelaland. Zimbabwean citizens are facing huge challenges in trying to get shelter as the floods have destroyed practically everything that they have inclusive of their property and their crops.  

Minister of Local Governance Ignatius Chombo.

The government has revealed that it does not have enough resources to help more than 60,000 families affected by floods in the Tokwe Mukosi dam basin. In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, local government minister Ignatius Chombo said the situation in the area was so bad that relocation of the affected families need to be speeded up. However the relocation effort was being hampered by the lack of resources. Furthermore, the flooding that happened at Tokwe-Mukosi dam basin has come about because our engineers had anticipated that the dam would take three years to fill but, to our surprise, this has just happened in half season “So it becomes necessary therefore that we speed up relocation of all the people now, not it three years, we don’t have enough time.

It had been alleged that the government had done nothing about the Tsholotsho floods and the help was being rendered to citizens in Msvingo while neglecting the situation in Tsholotsho. These accusation were widely felt as no effort was being made in helping the vicitms in Tsholotsho. Stung by accusations that flood relief efforts have all been centered on Tokwe-Mukosi in Masvingo, the government has responded by sending a high powered delegation of no less than eleven ministers descended to water-ravaged Tsholotsho. The ministerial team, led by the Senior Minister of State Simon Khaya Moyo, will assess the damage caused by recent floods as well as the needs of the affected families, many of whom were left homeless. Also on the tour was the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Matabeleland North Cain Mathema, Professor Jonathan Moyo (Information, Media and Broadcasting Services), Sydney Sekeramayi (Defence), Dr Ignatius Chombo (Local Government, Public Works and National Housing), Joseph Made (Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development), Lazarus Dokora (Primary and Secondary Education), David Parirenyatwa (Health and Childcare), Obert Mpofu (Transport and Infrastructural Development), Kembo Mohadi (Home Affairs), Saviour Kasukuwere (Environment, Water and Climate) and Walter Chidhakwa (Mines and Mining Development). Killian Mupingo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture

Villagers of Mapili and Mbamba on Wednesday told Southern Eye that government officials had not lived up to their promise to chip in with assistance after they lost their crops and homes that were washed away by the floods. The government and donor agencies only provided food, shelter and clothing to flood victims in Sipepa and Gariya while neglecting villagers of Maili and Mbamba area that were equally hard hit. However, these allegation have been dismissed by other villagers who asserts that the government intervened and helped all the villagers equally. No-one has been left out by the government and it it said that villagers are continuing getting help from the relevant authorities. Government officials must live up to

their promises and make lives better for their citizens who voted them in power.

It can be concluded that the government of Zimbabwe is facing huge challenges in trying to deal with these disasters, nevertheless, the measures taken so far are of great importance and people's lives have been made better by the donations made. Due to climate change, the rainy season is not yet over and heavy rains are still experienced in some parts of the country and we appeal to the government to take action and help the citizens in need. This kind of help must be given to all people affected despite their ethnic groups and their geographic location. Help must be rendered to all the citizen needing it and the Tokwe-Mukosi incident must not be given prominence than the Tsholotsho floods because all these are floods that have destroyed people's lives and the government must give help in those areas as these people have rights. The right to shelter, food and all the basic needs for their survival, therefore, let no-one's rights be violated in these incidences, lets see our government at work and trying all their best in making sure that the current situations are being made better by the help they offer.