Hailstorm hits Lalapanzi, leaves trail of destruct...

Hailstorm hits Lalapanzi, leaves trail of destruction

The Lalapanzi hailstorm destroyed houses among other infrastructure

Zim Now Writer

A hailstorm that occurred in Lalapanzi in the Midlands Province on Wednesday night reportedly caused extensive damage to houses, and power lines, and left villagers counting losses as they also lost livestock to the storm.

According to Wadzanai Farm chairperson Okay Machisa, the hailstorm was accompanied by violent winds.

Machisa said people will need to be quickly looked after with regards to shelter and food.

“This is a terrible situation where we think the Department of Civil Protection (DCP) should come in and ensure that those that have been affected have been assisted, said Machisa.

Climate change activist Makario Chinongwa, who is also a villager in the area, said some of these weather phenomena are caused by climate change, which is fast becoming a reality in our lives.

Chinongwa urged fellow villagers to ensure they always take time to repair the roofs of their houses so that they at least resist the vagaries of weather.

“I encourage fellow villagers to constantly check their roofs to see if everything is in order. What happened (Wednesday night) is only the beginning, we don’t know what will happen next. We have never experienced such a violent storm here in Wadzanai. These are effects of global warming,” said Chinongwa.

Ben Zimunda, a member of the DCP assessment team, said they have visited about half of 176 households in the area, so assess the extent of the damage.

Already, hailstorms have destroyed property worth thousands of dollars in the form of infrastructure, houses and livestock.

Last month, a storm ravaged Kadoma, destroying a students’ hostel at Jameson High School while last week, another hailstorm left Bindura Hospital’s X-ray unit and theatre room damaged.

Two hectares of vegetables and five of maize were flattened while trees were uprooted, and roofs of buildings blown off.

Also last month, hailstorms destroyed blocks at Simana Secondary and St Joseph Primary schools at different times in Zhombe District, Kwekwe.