Cyclone Dineo kills 200 in Midlands alone; Mberengwa, Gokwe most affected

Tinashe Zisengwe

The deadly Cyclone Dineo which affected most parts of the country is reported to have claimed at least 200 lives in the Midlands province alone, a senior government official has disclosed.

Minister of State in the Midlands Province Jason Machaya speaking in Zvishavane on Friday said the province has recorded at least 200 fatalities due to Cyclone Dineo which pounced over the past few months.

Machaya added that Mberengwa and Gokwe districts were the most affected areas in the province as most victims come from these places.

“Mberengwa was the worst affected with Zvishavane-Bulawayo Route Bridge having been swept away, 23 school pupils at Chegato High School were also trapped by the heavy rains and sadly a grade five pupil (Irvine Moyo) drowned trying to cross a local bridge.

Gokwe South and North come second and third respectively as schools and major bridges were destroyed,” said the Minister.

Despite the frightening figure of 200 death cases reported so far, Machaya said more than 500 families are victims of the deadly cyclone across the province.

He said the government has since engaged the army to come and assist in constructing temporary bridges while mapping plans for a permanent solution. zwnews.com