The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
HAILSTORMS that hit Makoni District since the onset of the rainy season this month have destroyed infrastructure worth over $5 million.
Seven schools, one police post and Department of Veterinary Services office had their roofs blown off.
Private property was not also spared, and assessment is being carried out to ascertain the levels of damage.
Makoni Rural District Council chief executive officer, Dr Edward Pise, said no loss of lives and injuries were recorded.
They have already written to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to have funds released to repair the damaged infrastructure.
“We were quite unfortunate as a district to have hailstorms that damaged public and private building this month. Damaged public buildings include a police post at Chiendambuya Growth Point, Tandi Veterinary Office, and the following schools Katsenga, Chitenderano, Nyakwima, Muchakata, Kufa, Nyamazira and Inyati Mine which had classrooms and teachers quarters affected.
“We have since notified the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works about this development, and we are expecting to receive $5m to repair these buildings. We were given green-light to attend to all affected public infrastructure even if it is not council property,” said Dr Pise.
He said learning was progressing on well in affected schools.
“We continue to urge our schools to insure their property against unfortunate incidences such as theft and hailstorms,” said Dr Pise.
Zimbabwe Rural Teachers’ Union president, Mr Martin Chaburumunda, said some rural schools infrastructure were in need of refurbishment as they now pose a serious danger to both pupils and teachers.
“Most schools in rural areas are in a very poor state. Some are very old, and the only solution is to build new classrooms and teachers’ houses. In other cases, the schools were built using substandard materials.
“Government and other responsible authorities must upgrade this infrastructure because every rainy season several schools are affected, endangering teachers and pupils’ lives,” said Mr Chaburumunda.
