BY SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO.
In response to last week’s devastating heavy rains that displaced multiple households, Masvingo City Municipality has announced plans to relocate 10 of the 21 affected families to a new area. An estimated US$300,000 is needed to complete the relocation, according to city officials.
The municipality revealed that it has identified land in the Runyararo North West area for the relocation project, as efforts intensify to ensure the safety and stability of affected residents. Masvingo City Director of Housing and Social Services, Simbarashe Mandishona, confirmed that plans are underway to move these households in a timely manner, provided the necessary funds can be secured.
“We have some short and long term measures in place. However the lasting solution to the whole problem is to identify an alternative piece of land in order to relocate the affected families so that they erect structures there. We need a budget of about USD300,000 in order to construct houses for the critically affected 10 families. Our major problem is that we are apparently facing some financial challenges. We hope to get help from the central government in our effort to make sure that we relocate these people to an area that is in Runyararo North West,” said Mandishona.
“We have already identified those who have been critically affected and we had a meeting with the Secretary for Masvingo Province and Devolution, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa. We deliberated on the modalities to be considered before allocating these people their respective residential stands,” he added.
Masvingo Mayor, Aleck Tabe, also said that, beyond relocation efforts, the council is committed to improving the drainage system in vulnerable areas. The recent heavy rains overwhelmed the current infrastructure, with water flooding several homes and causing extensive damage, especially in low-lying suburbs. “We are working to prevent this from happening again. Our priority is to protect the community and ensure our drainage system can withstand future downpours,” said the Mayor.
Epraim Mutombeni, Director of the Masvingo Centre for Research Advocacy and Development (MACRAD), a civic organisation advocating for development, called for urgent action. “We cannot afford to delay. These families are in a precarious situation, and the authorities need to act quickly. This has always been happening without action from the authorities,” said Mutombeni, emphasising that disaster preparedness should be a priority for local governments moving forward.
When contacted for comment, the Secretary for Masvingo Province and Devolution Affairs, Dr Pazvakavambwa, confirmed that he engaged the city fathers for action and referred all questions to the local authority. The municipality is currently seeking both public and private support to raise the funds required for the relocation project, as city officials and civic groups press for a swift response to prevent further suffering among affected families.