The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
MORE than 500 people missing in Rusitu Valley only, among them 44 swept away at once in a flooded Haroni River, houses blown to smithereens, others collapsing on themselves, electric poles and trees uprooted and left littering muddied and impassable roads, is the legacy of devastating Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani district.
The severe cyclonic storm, that started being felt late last week, left in its wake, a trail of destruction across Chimanimani district and other parts of Chipinge district in Manicaland rendering thousands homeless and literally cutting the resort area from the rest of the country.
When the Manica Post visited the Skyline Junction — the furthest point that could be reached on road in Chimanimani district days after the tragedy struck, villages and hamlets that were worst-hit by the cyclone were still picking up the pieces, awaiting relief interventions from authorities.
Several Government departments that also include the Zimbabwe National Army, individuals, churches, non-governmental organizations and business community entities like Greenfuels pooled in labour and resources to clear roadways, buy essential supplies and erect temporary shelter for victims.
Timothy Musaeni, an artisanal miner who traversed the undulating terrain from Rusitu Valley on foot together with colleagues, told The Manica Post that he witnessed 44 of the 49 people who were trying to cross Haroni River being swept away.
“The death toll that people are talking about out here is just a fraction of what happened in Rusitu Valley. People died like flies. I actually witnessed an incident in which 49 people were trying to cross Haroni River while holding hands and they were unlucky when they almost reaching the banks of the flooded river they were swept away and only five survived.
“These were relatives and friends of some artisanal miners who had crossed the river to rescue their loved ones who were doing gold panning across Haroni River. The incident occurred on their way back,” said Musaeni.
Apart from infrastructure, the tropical storm also destroyed crops and livestock.
Silas Mutore of Muusha village said he lost 16 beasts as well as crops that were swept away during the cyclone.
“I really do not know how we are going to survive as a family. We have lost everything. 16 beasts were swept away while all the crops that we had in the field were destroyed.
“We had three hactares of bananas and two hactares of sugar beans but all that is destroyed. We are now at the mercy of donors and well wishers because we have lost everything we had,” he said.
88-year-old Eniah Chimene, who lost her husband during the cyclone, said she only survived by the grace of God.
“I really do not know how I managed to survive. Our house collapsed and my husband died on the spot after he was struck by a pole falling from the roof. I managed to find my way through the rubble but I suddenly started drowning in mud. Luckily some neighbours rushed to rescue me and took me to a safe place,” she said.
Cyclone Idai cut off power and communications in Chimanimani and other parts of Manicaland province.
People fled from their homes to the slopes of mountain and were waiting to be rescued, but strong winds have hampered helicopter flights until Tuesday when the clouds disappeared.
Rescue efforts were still ongoing by Wednesday with the injured being ferried to Mutambara hospital and some transferred to Mutare Provincial Hospital.
