The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda Chipinge Correspondent
HAVING been motivated by the desire to ensure communities have early warning systems and resultantly take precautionary measures, two Rimbi Primary School pupils have invented a gadget that alerts those near river banks to flee as flood risk increases.
Munyaradzi Mhofu and Sylvester Mataraunda, who are doing Grades 7 and 5, respectively, recently received top gongs at the Manicaland arts and science festival held at St Dominic’s High School, for their astute innovation.
“Our boys made the school proud at the PASSAF exhibition in Mutare. The gadget is a simple one where there is a funnel that contains water. The water comes from a container through a pipe. That water stands for rain water while the container resembles a river or dam. The copper wire is placed at a level where the river is not yet flooded,’’ said the pair’s mentor Mr Passmore Mufari.
Mr Mufari explained that when the water volume in the container increases, the float rises until it gets to the point where it meets the copper wire.
When it reaches that point, he said, the system connected to the container reacts and sends signals to the community through a siren which is activated, and suddenly the lights show signs of life.
At the same time, Mr Mufari said, short messages are wire via mobile phones linked to the device while a voice message is send to the community.
“The above occur simultaneously and the audio message is a clarion call for the community to flee to safety. It’s a system which is very relevant in these times where climate change has taken toll, resulting in floods rocking our country,” said the school head, Mr Tangirai Simango.
Munyaradzi said the gadget was important invention as it warns people of the risk of flooding.
“The flood management gadget is placed in a river. People are alerted to the inevitable danger when the float meets the copper wire. Thus, the rapid response team is immediately set in motion to save a community,” he said.
As the young scientist gets into the examination mode in preparation for the Grade 7 final examinations, teachers expect the future Isaac Newton’s innovative mind to come to fruition.
“We urge secondary schools to construct laboratories to further enhance the teaching of Science subjects. Our country needs scientists to reach the level of development that the first world countries are currently enjoying.
“We applaud the ingenuity of Munyaradzi and Sylvester, and of course the efforts of Rimbi Primary School in supporting the pupils, notwithstanding the financial squeeze most schools are in,” said the Chipinge district schools inspector, Mr Richard Gabaza.
