By Rex Mphisa
BEITBRIDGE Civil Protection Unit head Sikhangezile Mafu has said residents of her sprawling district should brace for violent storms as rains left a trail of destruction across the district of 120 000 people.
She asked the able bodied to take care of the vulnerable and said early reporting of disaster is encouraged.
Mafu said rains were likely to be violent considering extreme conditions prevailing and residents of the district must be on high alert.
Her warning came as Wards Two and 12 reported destruction of buildings by the violent storms accompanied by strong fast winds.
“This is when people must protect each other. People should take care of the vulnerable. The old, children, women and the weak need protection,” she told Ziyah News Network in an interview.
“People should also report disasters quickly so that help is sought fast. It is the duty of everyone according to the Civil Protection Act. We should quickly report any incidences,” said
Mafu who is also the Beitbridge District Development Coordinator.
At Majini School, some 90 kilometres west of her office, a storm ripped the teacher in charge’s cottage, damaging two homesteads on its violent streak.
“Another homestead was struck by lightning in the same area where Makhado police post was damaged by the storms,” she said.
Across the district, in the east at Tshapongwe, a school had its roof tipped over while a causeway at Fula was cut disabling traffic on the Chikwarakwara road from Lutumba.
“The rain season is here and we must be cautious,” Mafu said.
Beitbridge East Member of Parliament Albert Nguluvhe appealed to the Department of Roads to quickly attend to the causeway on the main artery of Beitbridge East.