Human rights activists in Masvingo province are calling on the government to come up with long term plans to protect citizens from the effects of floods. Speaking during the State of Masvingo, current affairs programme on Hevoi FM, Zimbabwe Human Rights provincial coordinator, Thomas Mbetu said its high time government comes up with a master plan towards floods and natural disasters calamities. “This is the fourth time that the country is being faced by such a tragedy(at Tugwi-Mukosi). By now, all the previous scenarios must have taught us enough lessons in order to stay alert with all the mechanisms to eradicate these disasters at our disposal,” said Mbetu. Human rights lawyer Martin Mureri says that the government should always consider human rights as a vital component. “Government should move people staying downstream of Tugwi-Mukosi because they can`t be allowed to keep on residing in such a dangerous area. This does not however mandate the government to stiffle human rights in the process. Areas such as Chingwizi are not suitable places for human life. Remember these people are supposed to benefit from the same dam. Human rights are a birthright hence should never be violated in the process.” Said Mureri. Human rights always urged government to come up with comprehensive measures towards the protection of human rights each time that floods sweep across the country. In 2019, Cyclone Idai killed more than six hundred people while more than 1 600 people were injured and thousands displaced from their homes in Manicaland and Masvingo provinces. The latest developments are coming at a time when the Tugwi Mukosi, which is the largest inland dam, has spilled for the second time thereby aggravating the need for protection of human rights. “We are afraid we might end up being moved to die in Chingwizi.” Said a certain Chivi villager who preferred only to be identified as Tinago.
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