The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
CYCLONE Idai survivors camped at schools and churches in Ngangu Township, Chimanimani are refusing to move into makeshift tents to free up learning and worshiping space, demanding that they be allocated residential stands to pitch the tents while building permanent houses.
A survey by The Manica Post at Ngangu showed that makeshift tents pitched opposite Chimanimani Hotel and Chimanimani Country Club remained empty after being shunned by the survivors of Cyclone Idai.
With schools set to open for second term next Tuesday, expectations were that people camped at learning institutions would have been relocated elsewhere to free up learning space.
However, the residents are refusing to move into the tents citing cold winter weather and fear of neglection, among other reasons.
Mr Shepherd Musikavanhu, one of the survivors of Cyclone Idai camped at the Roman Catholic Church in Ngangu, was adamant that they will not move into the makeshift tents, opting to instead be allocated new stands to construct their own houses.
“We are not moving into those tents. No. All we are saying is that we want to be allocated residential stands. If the authorities want us to move into those tents, it will be on condition that they allocate us stands and move the tents to our residential stands,” he said.
Mrs Sheila Mwahlupa, who is camped at Ngangu Primary School, said they fear being neglected once they moved into the tents, hence their insistence on being allocated residential stands outside the township.
“We have seen how people can easily be neglected after similar natural disasters. We do not want that to happen to us. They should just allocate us residential stands and then pitch the tents on our stands,” she said.
Another resident of Ms Chenai Muchirahondo said moving into the tents during winter would further traumatise them.
“This is winter, and as you know Chimanimani is very cold. You cannot expect us to move into those makeshift tents with young children. We do not have enough warm blankets and sleeping in a tent would further traumatise the survivors.
“We want the authorities to allocate us residential stands so that we feel secure. You know how it is like when one has gone through such a traumatising experience, you become insecure, and they must feel for us,” she said.
In a recent media briefing, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde July Moyo said Government had already identified areas to relocate the survivors of Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge and due processes were underway.
“We are serious about relocating those that were affected by Cyclone Idai. In fact, there are areas that have since been identified for that purpose but there are due processes that have to be followed before people can be allowed to move into those areas.
“For example, there is Lindly Farm and Nhuka Farm where we have asked experts to assess whether it is safe to relocate people in that area. We also have another area in Nhedziwa where the Department of Physical Planning is already assessing whether it is feasible to relocate some of the people.
“We also have people in Rusitu, Vhimba and Muchadziya areas where villagers have interests and would not want to leave, but we are saying we have to find an area to relocate them while they keep their farming space so that they can visit the areas for farming purposes while they stay in a safer place.
“So there are a number of procedures that have to be followed whenever people are relocated. These are processes we cannot rush through given that we do not want to go through a repeat of what we have already experienced.
“There are also a number of factors that range from psycho social and political connotations that come with relocation which have to be looked at before rolling out the relocation exercise,” said Minister Moyo.
