Hospital, farmers count losses as storm ravages Bi...

Hospital, farmers count losses as storm ravages Bindura

Zim Now Writer

A violent storm swept through Bindura last Thursday, uprooting trees and knocking down electricity poles in the process while the X-ray room at Bindura Hospital was damaged as the roof was blown off.

The roof of the theatre room was also damaged with the estimated cost of repairing the damage around US$70 000.

Deputy Director of Local Governance, who is Department of Civil Protection (DCP) provincial focal person, Willard Masimba said patients requiring X-ray and theatre services were being referred to Shamva and Concession hospitals as those at Bindura Hospital were not functioning.

“A wi-fi aerial fell on the roof of the theatre room damaging seven roofing sheets. The storm blew off the roof of the X-ray room, flooding the two critical units,” he said.

“The roof of the eye unit and staff house were also damaged as well as the children’s wards, causing flooding. The drainage to the records office and male ward failed, which also resulted in flooding.

“The main door to the administration block was blown away and the accountant’s room ceiling started leaking. Roof gutters to the greenhouse were removed and the passage of the training school was damaged.”

Masimba said the heaviest damage was recorded in Bindura town with other districts not recording severe incidents, adding that four units at Mt Darwin flats belonging to the National Housing Fund, along the Bindura-Mt Darwin Road near Bindura University of Science Education, had their roofs blown off.

Farmers were not spared too, as those in horticulture lost about two hectares of vegetables with some mango trees knocked over, while five hectares of maize at knee level was flattened.

“We have five people who sustained bruises due to the storm who need medical assistance. Meanwhile, 20 households need food aid, 10 households need clothing and blankets, and 15 houses need roofing materials,” he said.

Masimba appealed to the corporate world for assistance to bail out affected families, adding: “Most of the affected areas are part of Cleverhill and Green Hill suburbs, and the National Housing Fund flats. As the provincial CPU, we are running around seeking assistance and Freda Rebecca Mine has come on board to assist ZETDC in restoring the poles and power.