TSHOLOTSHO villagers hard-hit by recent floods have indicated they will need food aid this year saying their crops had been destroyed by waterlogging.
NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER
Several parts of Tsholotsho especially, along the Gwayi River, were flooded last month leaving tens of families homeless.
Chief Mathuphula told Southern Eye on Friday that villages on the banks of Gwayi River such as Mapili, Mahlosi, Mbamba and Tshayile were facing the prospect of a serious crop failure.
The villagers who had complained of neglect by the government said they were relieved that a delegation of Cabinet ministers finally visited them a fortnight ago.
However, the villagers said there was still need for more assistance after a number of families had their food reserves destroyed by the floods.
“After the distribution of food and blankets to the villagers, some came and said their crops had been destroyed by water,” Chief Mathuphula said.
“We told them that we would compile a report and hand it to the (district administrator) DA’s office so that they get foot assistance.
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Southern Eye exposed the plight of Elina Mpala of Mapili Village, prompting the Senior Minister Simon Khaya Moyo and his wife to donate mealie meal and blankets to her.
Her story also forced the government to react to the plight of Tsholotsho villagers, which has been overshadowed by the Tokwe-Mukosi disaster.
“I did not manage to go to Sipepa when the ministers came but the next day, the chief came with his tractor,” Gogo Mpala said on Friday.
“ In the trailer there was mealie meal, clothes and blankets. I was given four bags of mealie meal and a blanket.
“The other villagers who were affected by the floods were given clothes, mealie meal and blankets.” Mpala’s husband Dokotela Ndlovu paid tribute to the government, especially Moyo and his wife, for the donation of clothes.
Another victim Sevi Sibanda, a widow, said although the donations came in handy they were not enough.
“We received mealie meal and clothes, but it was not enough. We are hoping that the government assists us with food because our crops were damaged in the fields,” she said.
“The few that survived can’t be harvested because of the incessant rains.
“Now the cobs are falling into water and rotting.”
“One of my houses was destroyed and I do not have any place to store the maize so it is rotting in the fields.”
Chief Mathuphula said the villagers were reluctant to leave the area to higher ground because of its rich soils.
“Besides graves of their family members, the soil here is so rich and crops always thrive, so I think that is the difficulty that the villagers are having when it comes to leaving the area,” he said.
The chief said the ministers who included Jonathan Moyo (Information, Media and Broadcasting Servcies), Kembo Mohadi (Home Affairs) and Ignatius Chombo (Local Government) had left a tonne of mealie meal for the flood victims in the Sipepa area.
He said another meeting had been called by the district administrator Nosizi Dube on Wednesday in the area and he was hopeful more aid would be forthcoming.
“We received one tonne of mealie meal for my area. We gave the mealie meal to the affected villagers and the elderly. The gift that was given to Gogo Elina Mpala by Moyo and his wife was handed to her as well as mealie meal and a blanket,” Chief Mathuphula said.
He said the 30 tonnes of maize had not been received, but hoping that they would be was part of the meeting called by the DA.
“We want to thank the government for their assistance to the flood victims,” the chief added.
“We thank particularly Moyo and his team for coming down and assessing the situation on the ground.
“We also want to thank the DA and the local team as well as the local police for the assistance they rendered at the time of the floods.”
