The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
TRAUMA haunts the Muzhambi family ever since the night of March 15, 2019 when Cyclone Idai left them severely injured and homeless.
The trauma was worsened last week with the news that Cyclone Freddy was slowly heading towards Zimbabwe after making landfall on the east coast of Madagascar on the evening of February 21, 2023.
Forecasts said Freddy would bring damaging winds, storm surge, and heavy rains as the storm moved inland.
Rainfall was expected to be especially damaging in places still recovering from Cyclone Idai which killed over 300 people and left thousands homeless in Chipinge and Chimanimani.
Fortunately, by the time the cyclone reached Mozambique, it had weakened into a Tropical Storm, and then a Tropical Depression.
However, despite the loss in intensity, Tropical Depression Freddy still managed to wash away some bodies from graves in Mozambique and this heightened the Muzhambis’ anxiety.
They expected the worst in Chimanimani, and they were not alone in their fears as the entire district and Chipinge are still recovering from the effects of Cyclone Idai.
As they waited for fate to run its course, the Muzhambi family had flashbacks of the devastating Cyclone Idai.
Due to the severe anxiety, they also suffered from insomnia and endless nightmares.
The family’s fear for the worst grew with each passing moment as they received regular updates as the weather phenomenon passed through Madagascar, Mozambique and then Zimbabwe.
Like many families who were previously affected by Cyclone Idai, they had to temporarily migrate from the mountainous Chimanimani to safer areas within the province.
According to the head of the family, Mr Givemore Muzhambi, the news of Cyclone Freddy brought back the memories they have been struggling to erase.
“I am a survivor of Cyclone Idai and dealing with Freddy was not easy for us. We luckily survived Cyclone Idai and are still to fully recover from the losses brought about by the devastating cyclone. My house in Ngangu extension suburb was hit by the cyclone and was grounded by the huge boulders.
“We had to rebuild the house. All the furniture was destroyed and only one wall remained. Most of us were seriously injured. My wife and five of my six children were left nursing wounds. The only one who was not hurt rushed to get help for us. We are grateful that we were rescued before the boulders could crush us, otherwise we would be dead,” said Mr Muzhambi.
“We hear that when Freddy got here it was no longer a Cyclone, but a Tropical Depression. However, the rains that pounded this area got us seriously worried, even before Tropical Depression Freddy had made the landfall. Our re-built house was flooded and we suspected that something bad was brewing way before we were alerted of Tropical Depression Freddy.
Givemore Muzhambi
“When we were finally alerted, we knew that we had to temporarily move to another area which is not Chimanimani or Chipinge as the two districts are prone to disasters. I knew that my family would not be able to relive that nightmare.
“In 2019 we saw our neighbours and friends dying and you just cannot relive that and remain sane. We saw crushed bodies under rocks when the sniffer dogs came. We saw a whole community being wiped off by Cyclone Idai and that is not something you can go through again despite your age,” he said.
Mr Muzhambi said while communication on Cyclone Idai was made in 2019, it was not as efficient as it was for the past two weeks when responsible authorities alerted the communities of the then Cyclone Freddy.
“We only got to know of Cyclone Idai through newspapers and radio stations, but the magnitude of that disaster was not communicated to us, which is why we lost a lot of people. As the communities, we were not prepared.
“However, this time around, we knew what was coming. We were not relaxed and we had ample time to seek safe shelter because the magnitude of the situation was well communicated,” he said.
Another Cyclone Idai survivor, Mr Freddy Mapakame-Makuyana said they resorted to prayers during the past two weeks.
He said despite fears that 2019 would repeat itself, they had no option but to remain calm and go to higher ground.
“We stayed alert because we knew that this was a clear result of climate change. We did not know whether we would be safe in areas outside Chimanimani, therefore we decided to stay put.
“Fortunately no adverse effects of the Tropical Depression were reported in Chimanimani. We are always on our knees praying that we will not affected by future cyclones,” said Mr Mapakame-Makuyana.
Adverse weather conditions started to take a toll on Chimanimani and Chipinge districts a fortnight ago as two people and at least seven cattle were struck by lightning, while property, including school rooftops, were destroyed.
With the Tropical Storm approaching, Government last week suspended learning in Manicaland and other provinces as a precautionary measure.
According to a report released by Relief Web, Cyclone Idai affected more than 270 000 in the country, while 341 were left dead.
Many others remain missing four years on.
A total of 17 608 were left homeless, while 12 health facilities were destroyed in Chimanimani and Chipinge.
At least 139 schools were damaged, with 9 084 learners being affected.
Water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure was also damaged.
