Manicaland DCP sets up evacuation centres

Zim Now Writer

The Manicaland Province Department of Civil Protection is on high alert following Meteorological Services Department warnings of looming heavy rains and flash floods starting today.

The MSD said on Wednesday that torrential rains are expected across the country, starting along the north of the main watershed and Eastern Highlands, beginning today until Sunday.

Manicaland DCP chairperson Edgars Seenza, who is also the provincial development co-ordinator, said the province was on high alert.

“We are on high alert after the Met Department alert. We have also approached the security sector for mobilisation of resources,” Seenza said.

“We have already identified evacuation centres, but the full details of the evacuation centres are in my office and we have more evacuation centres in Chimanimani, Chipinge and Mutare districts.”

In 2019, he Eastern Highlands, particularly Chimamanimani district, was ravaged by Cyclone Idai, which claimed over 300 lives and destroyed infrastructure.

After Cyclone Idai, several other cyclones have hit the country, in particular Manicaland, though they were not as devastating as Idai, which was one of the worst on record to affect Africa and the Southern Hemisphere.

Besides leaving 1 500 people dead and many more missing, the cyclone caused catastrophic damage and a humanitarian crisis in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi.