22 Jan 2013

District officer development for Tonota Sub-district, Ms Maikano Madigela has urged residents to build houses that can withstand harsh weathers.

She said in an interview that many families in the northern part of the country were left homeless after their houses collapsed following recent rains..

Ms Madigela said this could have been avoided if people built strong houses. She noted that houses which collapsed,  were traditional huts built from clay soils but roofed with corrugated irons. She explained that such houses were not properly supported.

At Mabesekwa, she said, there were no heavy falls but houses collapsed due to the continuous drizzling weather.

She however noted that they had not recorded any loss of life. However, one old woman in Natale  was admitted at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital after her housed collapsed on her.

In an effort to address the situation, they managed to assist the families with tents and food and were in the process of assisting families in Shashemooke whose houses collapsed after the disaster team had left the village.

She added that social workers in respective areas were on the field assessing the situations in order to provide aid where necessary.

In addition, she highlighted that the one way bridge, which connects Tonota to Ditladi was closed for traffic to prevent accidents. She said the Shashe River was overflowing and the road will continue closed until the situation improves. ENDS