The rains that graced us during the past week were welcome as this resulted in significant inflows into our water sources.
The rains came as the nation was anxious after weather-forecasters said an El-Nino-induced drought would grace the 2023 to 2024 agricultural season.
However, the rains have brought untold suffering to residents in Budiriro who have been forced to leave their homes due to flooding.
Last week, two people died in Highfield and Budiriro. In Budiriro, a six-year-old boy was swept away by floods. His body was recovered this week.
In an alert on Thursday, ZimRights said over 90 families in Budiriro have been rendered homeless by floods as it appealed for assistance to give the affected families. ZimRights said the affected families urgently require blankets, food and accommodation.
The call by ZimRights comes after Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume called on residents in Budiriro Paddocks area, Kuwadzana Paddocks and other low-lying areas to evacuate their house as floods have been forecasted.
As the nation commiserates with the affected families, our poor state of preparedness has come under scrutiny.
The Meteorological Services Department had projected that flooding would hit our shores. We are only reacting when families have been affected. Where is the Civil Protection Unit whose role is to rescue citizens affected by disasters? It is anonymous and ZimRights have stepped in, pleading on behalf of the affected families.
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Over 90 families have nowhere to go. Why can’t the government declare a state of disaster so that it can mobilise resources to help the affected families.
This is no longer a City of Harare issue, but a national emergency as it involves over 90 families that have nowhere to go.
Their homes are flooded, and they have lost property worth thousands of dollars. It will take time for them to recover and require a jump-start.
Our planning has also come under scrutiny. Were the affected areas supposed to be there in the first place? Was the land sold by council or by land barons who then arm twisted the local authority to regularise the area.
It is a conversation which should escalate to avoid similar incidents in future.
There are also concerns that citizens build houses on wetlands, and they will always be affected in the event of heavy rains.
The local authority should do its part by ensuring that storm drains are not blocked for water to move freely.
Storm drains are blocked in several residential areas which have flooded some parts of the city.
Some light showers will leave the city with small dams.
This is a ticking health bomb when the nation is battling a cholera outbreak that has spread to all the country’s 10 provinces. Harare has been declared a cholera hotspot.
We are skating on thin mud if we allow the existence of small dams that we have seen in several suburbs. That will be a breeding ground for waterborne diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea.
