Mendy Mandirahwe
DISABILITY champion, Onias Zariro has called on Disaster Risk Reduction stakeholders in Buhera and Mutare (Bocha) to act swiftly to avert a looming disaster that school going kids in the two districts are facing.
Zariro was concerned by witnessing school kids as young as those going for Early Childhood Learning (ECD) crossing a flooded causeway on Save River that connects Buhera and Bocha via Gonouya and Zviripiri.
“The upstream of the bridge has Marovanyati Dam, Mwerahari River and other tributaries. We are worried about the lives of children, livestock and the elderly.
“I was touched by the fact that our vehicle and many others failed to cross the bridge for sometime but the kids were risking their lives crossing the flooded bridge in groups. Those responsible for disaster reduction in the area should pay attention to this place,” he said.
The issue of crossing flooded rivers has been a sore in the eye for remote areas with Chiredzi district recording 14 deaths last year when people were swept trying to cross flooded Runde River at Chilonga in Chiredzi South.