Nearly all the families are still living like wild animals – some in the open and others in pole and dagga huts. According to a report by aid agencies helping the victims since their displacement in February, the families urgently need permanent, habitable homes if the state wants to avoid another catastrophe with the onset of the rainy season.
“We note with concern the conditions in which the flood victims are currently staying. We call on the government to either urgently compensate the victims so that they can build new homes or assist them in providing decent shelter,” the report says. “Nearly all the children displaced by the floods have dropped out of school with nothing in sight for them to further their education.”
The agencies involved include the World Food Programme, Care International, Action Firm, Batanai HIV and Aids Support Organisation and the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society.
The villagers this week claimed that they were advised by the government not to bring in their cattle or to construct permanent homes after being forcibly displaced from Chingwizi transit camp.
“We were surprised when the government officials told us not to bring our cattle or construct permanent structures,” said one of the villagers who refused to be named for fear of victimisation. “We strongly suspect that the government still wants to relocate us again to another piece of land.”
However, Masvingo provincial administrator Felix Chikovo denied ever telling the villagers not to bring in their cattle or build permanent structures. “We have relocated these people and we are not going to disturb their lives anymore, “said Chikovo. “We expect that by now those with resources should have erected permanent homes. We are just waiting for money from central government so that all the villagers are compensated,” he added.
Recently the government made available $2 million to compensate some of the victims. Meanwhile the National Aids Council has announced that it has finished constructing a clinic at Nuanetsi Ranch, which should be ready for operation next month.
Evos Makoni, the provincial coordinator, said the clinic would be officially opened next month to serve thousands of the displaced people.
Post published in: News