The Emergency Service Sub-Committee will meet this Monday to strategise on how to respond to heavy rains and strong winds that are expected in parts of Manicaland, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland West, starting today.
The sub-committee is composed of the Air Force of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the Department of Civil Protection (DCP), the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) and other partners.
On Sunday, the MSD warned of heavy rains anticipated up to Thursday emanating from a tropical depression on the Mozambican channel.
Speaking to The Herald yesterday, MSD’s James Ngoma revealed that the tropical depression was gaining strength in the Mozambique channel. Said Ngoma:
The Tropical Depression is now evolving in the Mozambique Channel and has been gradually intensifying for the past few hours due to the warm waters of the Channel.
Meanwhile, DCP director Nathan Nkomo schools will be used as emergency evacuation centres if the anticipated heavy rains and winds become destructive. He said:
We have activated structures in Manicaland, Masvingo and some districts in Mashonaland Central and other parts of the country.
Our teams have petty cash for emergency response purposes, and we are also taking advantage of schools that are still closed for emergency evacuation centres.
I am happy to say all those who were living in tents after Cyclone Idai have been relocated to Runyararo formerly West-end farm, a new settlement built to accommodate the victims.
Tomorrow (today) morning we are meeting as the emergency services sub-committee and we will be giving details of the response plan.
Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia are all threatened by flooding rains this week.