Cyclone Idai victims in our hearts and minds

22 Mar, 2019 - 00:03 0 Views
Cyclone Idai victims in our hearts and minds Relatives check on a grave of their uncle only identified as Mungara who died after he was buried under boulders by the raging Cyclone Idai near Skyline in Chimanimani last Friday night —Picture: Tinai Nyadzayo

The ManicaPost

Chenai Mutasa Post Correspondent
Cyclone Idai has visited Zimbabwe and left a trail of unimaginable horrors; death, sorrow, destruction, injury and possible disease outbreaks. Waterborne diseases are knocking on the door and shortages of food started the first night families woke up to marooned livestock, crops and food stocks. In short, the people’s lives have been shipwrecked and as a nation we commiserate with we all those affected by the devastating cyclone.

Government has done everything under its arm to save the situation. Efforts of private and public well wishers, the corporate community and international community have warmed the hearts of not only directly affected families but Zimbabweans at large.

This afternoon, relief cargo planes are landing at the Robert Mugabe International Airport from the United Arab Emirates and Tanzania. Condolence messages have come from neighbouring Zambian president Edgar Lungu and the United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres. Foreign Missions stationed in Harare have waded into the relief effort accompanied by consoling messages from their homes.

The European Union has offered €500 00 while Econet has given $5 million to the rescue and recovery effort. Government has acted the big brother way with a $50 million fund for this purpose. Over and above this, various government ministries cooperating with the Civil Protection Unit and the Military are on the ground helping the sick, injured, the hungry and the traumatised. So massive is the effort that the real investment done by government will be difficult to quantify to the last cent until the operation is exhausted. Private helicopters have as well been seen in the Chimanimani skies, including one charted by Econet to help in the national emergency.

Despite all these efforts from all sectors, there are lots of lessons to learn from the disaster, both for government and the victims. Of special note are the affected communities’ responses to disaster warnings. Though warning messages were issued these were not taken seriously as people had no idea of the ferociousness of the cyclone which caught everyone by surprise.

The biggest resource a country has is its people and everything must be done to protect them at all costs. In future, under similar circumstances, people must be moved by state force at least to the nearest higher ground until afforded evacuation is rendered. Some stubborn villagers needlessly lost their lives and possessions which could have been saved had they taken heed of government messages ahead of the disaster.

While food and clothing is proving to be the average givers’ choice of donated items, a thought has to be spared for their sustained accommodation well after the donors have retreated to their homes. It ought to be remembered that these people lost houses they built probably half a century ago. Some inherited their dwellings from generations gone by. Investing in a house is no small business. It is imperative for businesses in constriction to donate their labour, expertise, equipment and resources to enable speedy reconstruction to save the ensuing anguish and inconvenience. Brick moulding brigades have to be formed and managed command style to speed up construction processes. New building methods also have to be utilised.

There is need also for counselling firms to donate their expert counsel to the families. It’s easier to read these families’ stories in the newspaper and flip to the next article but their real story can be felt well if the reader tries getting into their shoes. The trauma in the affected villages is beyond what the pen can express. Government’s Department of Social Welfare is seized but dwarfed with this matter. Private players’ efforts are begging loudly.

Also, the quality of housing people erect for their dwellings also leaves a lot to be desired. Manicaland has disposable income round the calendar from citrus that is demanded locally, regionally and internationally. With such kind of housing, those who met their fate to collapsing houses could have been spared. Rural Local Authorities, just like their urban counterparts, have a responsibility to steward the construction of quality housing and domestic infrastructure which do not give in to the first challenge.

Land barons also need to be weeded out of the land matrix in Zimbabwe. Some communities that were washed out and away were allocated residential stands on visible waterways, making them the first victims of the marauding waters.

Such criminal persons must be held to account. With the Land Commission on the ground, every Zimbabwean is waiting with bated breath to see the annihilation of the land criminals.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Manicaland visit is applauded so as to get a real feel of the catastrophe so his government can be informed so as to design appropriate responses for now and into the future. While the cyclone came and went, its effects may linger along for long. Infrastructure has been destroyed and is begging for fixing. Orphans have been created, livelihoods have been lost and so was life.

Amidst all these challenges, all the victims of cyclone Idai remain in our hearts and mind as we move forward together as nation.

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