14 Mar 2017

Residents of Gweta, Tsokatshaa and Zoroga will live to tell the story of a disaster that befell them as the aftermath of Cyclone Dineo continue to haunt them.

On March 13, nineteen days after the villages were flooded, the situation still remains, collapsing houses around the villages.

Giving an update, Tutume Sub-district Council chairperson, Mr Ishmael Mokgethi said the council, together with other government stakeholders availed resources to assist, noting that bulldozers were deployed to make trenches to divert water to barrow pits at Gweta.

The aim, he said, was to divert the water flowing into the village as it was affecting households.

At Zoroga along Nata/Zoroga road, the water levels were still high and had stagnated.

This, he said, affected the road badly so much that some vehicles could not cross.

At Tsokatshaa, he said they only managed to gain access on Sunday as the vehicles got stuck and failed due to the overflowing water and bad road.

Tutume Sub-district deputy district commissioner, Mr Michael Chilimba said government assisted with P58 500 to purchase food for the affected families.

Also, he said tents were sourced from as far as Ghanzi District while Botswana Defence Force availed a helicopter to assist in finding those still stuck at the cattle posts with no access roads.

Assistant council secretary for Tutume Sub-district, Mr Uyapo Mafunye said 22 families comprising 106 people were housed in tents at Gweta Brigade, adding that on Sunday, a truck was dispatched to collect food parcels at the Office of the President. Botswana Public Employee Union also assisted with food, which were given to staff at Gweta hospital while the lodges of Baobao and Gweta availed vehicles to assist in relocating residents. ENDS