THE Civil Protection Unit (CPU) in Tsholotsho has defended itself against claims that its reaction to the floods that left several families homeless last month was poor saying it managed to reach the hardest hit areas.
NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER
CPU’s reaction followed complains by Tsholotsho villagers, especially in the Mapili and Mbamba areas, that they had not received any help from the government despite officials visiting the area to assess the damage.
Tsholotsho district information officer Sheppard Honzeri on Friday said the two areas were the least affected by the floods and it would be unfair to use them to measure the CPU’s effectiveness.
“Muntabili, Gariya 1,2, 3, Ward 10 and Mbamba were the most affected by the floods,” he said.
“We got assistance from NGOs (non governmental organisations) operating in the district.
“They responded with foodstuffs, blankets and tents.
“We had Plan International that donated food packs and clothing to 40 families.
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“Child Care Ministries came in with foodstuffs, mealie meal as well as mosquito nets.”
Honzeri said in the worst affected areas, they did not record any destruction of property.
“There were areas that were inaccessible by road and we had to request for a helicopter to reach the affected villagers,” he said.
“The local chief was even shocked to read that the people of Tsholotsho had been overlooked for assistance, which is not true.”
Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo said he never received any correspondence from Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Cain Mathema notifying him of the damage caused by floods in Mapili and Mbamba village.
Chombo told Southern Eye yesterday that his ministry acted on correspondence from provinces saying where assistance was not rendered, it was because the respective Provincial Affairs minister had not alerted him.
Tsholotsho district administrator Nosizi Dube also rejected accusations that the government had neglected Mapili and Mbamba villagers.
“No one was left out. In fact, I have to tell you that the Civil Protection Unit team is still active,” she said.
“We are still on the ground assessing the situation and where there is a need for assistance we provide the needed support.”
Mathema has refused to talk to Southern Eye about the government’s response to the floods despite repeated efforts to seek his comment.
There have been complaints that flood victims in Tsholotsho have not received the same treatment as their Masvingo counterparts who were displaced by the flooding of the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam basin.
