By Tafadzwa Chigandiwa
Victims of cyclone Dineo which took place in February 2017 living 303 people in Tsholotsho homeless, particularly in Ward 5 and 6 resulting in the creation of settlement sites Tshino and Sawudweni, are reportedly in a dire situation as they are lacking accommodation.
Parliamentary Portfolio Committe on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing chairperson Miriam Chikukwa confirmed in her presentation at a recent parliamentary visit.
In her report, Chikukwa said each family that got affected by the storm was expected to be handed over a house each by the government.
However, the affected families are still residing in tents and other temporary structures.
“Tsholotsho District was affected by floods that destroyed housing and social infrastructure in 2017 and the government responded by constructing houses for the survivors of the disaster,” said Chikukwa.
“A total of 303 people were affected by Cyclone Dineo in 2017 in Ward 5 and 6 resulting in the creation of settlement sites in Tshino and Sawudweni. Each family was ideally supposed to be handed over a three-bedroom house, one Blair toilet and a kitchen detached from the main house.
“At Tshino site 143 houses were established. Of these, 11 had their roofs blown off by wind and 8 houses were yet to be roofed.”
According to Chikukwa a total of 61 more houses needs to be constructed, nearly 20 families are in dire need of accommodation as they were still living under tattered tents.
“A total of 143 toilets were constructed and 130 were not yet roofed,” she explained.
“At Saudweni Resettlement Site, 122 out of the expected 176 houses were constructed. At this site, more than 50 people were still living in tents. At both sites, no kitchen has been constructed. Discussions with those who had new homes revealed that most of the homes were too small for the families because they have big families and practice polygamy,” she said.
The worst affected areas in Tsholotsho include Mahlosi, Thamuhla, Mahlaba, Mbamba, Mele, Maphili, Mbanyana and Lutshome.
Speaking to Bustop TV, MDC Alliance Matebeleland North spokesperson, Mr Mhlonipheki Ncube said the situation has gone out of hand because the affected families are living under harsh conditions.
He also condemned the government indicating that it had failed to take care of its citizens.
Ncube said government is obliged to fulfill its promise to build homes and provide suitable accommodation to those that were affected.
“Government promised to build homes to the people from Tsholostsho who got affected by Cyclone Dineo. But its 4 years now and nothing has been done yet instead the people still live in tents,” he said.
