Education officials said most of the school toilets had been completely destroyed, leaving students with no option but to use the bush.
“We cannot open the doors for lessons because there are no toilets,” said Clara Dube, Masvingo Director for Education. “We are working flat out to make sure that we normalise the situation but funding has been the main obstacle.”
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has started giving food aid to communities that were affected by the hailstorms. According to government officials, at least 20, 000 people are in dire need of help in the affected areas.
Chiredzi South legislator, Ailess Baloyi, said they were still assessing the damage.
“We are still counting the losses and we have appealed to the government for urgent assistance for victims. In areas like Crocks Corner and the Limpopo Valley the damage was so severe that even animals were killed,” said Baloyi.
A heavy hailstorm hit Mwenezi and Chiredzi districts three weeks ago claiming two lives and causing serious damage to infrastructure. The hailstorm has made life for local residents worse as they were already facing a crippling food shortage after last year’s unreliable rain fall.
Masvingo province is in dire need of food aid and the government is currently battling to revive the Food for Work programme. Under the programme, villagers work on development projects and are paid in food.
Post published in: News