Cyclone Latest: Zimbabweans urged to focus on helping victims, stop name bashing

ZwNews.com

As the country has been plunged into deep mourning following the recent deaths, injuries and trail of destruction as a result to the Cyclone Idai, Zimbabweans have been urged to focus on helping the affected, and avoid name calling, a local social and political commentator has said.

This comes at a time the country’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been under fire for having have had left the country while the disaster was expected to hit the country.

Mnangagwa later cut short his travel to the UAE, returning home to be home with the affected, despite his cutting short of his journey, critics said he should not have left in the first place.

They claim it was not first time, for Mnangagwa to have run away while storm was brewing, giving reference to how he once left for a 5 nation state visit, while back home storm was brewing after he had hiked fuel price the night before. Again Mnangagwa had to cut the trip short.

Meanwhile, renowned political and social analyst Elder Mabhunu says the nation at the moment should exert their energies towards helping the needy and bereaved families other than name calling or playing the blame game.

“While I am personally one of those who think the President (Mnangagwa) could have stayed after advance warning had been given to the effect that the country was going to be affected by the cyclone.

“As for now I would urge fellow citizens to focus most of their effort to helping the victims,” he says.

In a related matter, the Civil Protection Unit (CPU)  is urging the country to be cautious as cyclone Idai death toll rises, recorded deaths hitting 85, and is expected to rise owing to the fact that some of the affected are yet to be accounted for.

As the sad news statistics continue to filter through, it is even worrying that a great number of victims are reportedly missing, raising fears that the toll could even rise still.

CPU says case of strong winds, people should shelter in houses with the strongest roofs and close all windows and doors.

“Be on the lookout for flooding /rising water levels and quickly move to safety,” says the CPU.

In case roofs and walls collapse people have been urged to shelter under tables, chairs and beds. The CPU goes on to call for Zimbabweans to always try to get information and updates regarding the cyclone so as to be alert and seek higher ground in good time.

“Make an effort to access weather updates and pay attention to information needs of those with disabilities,” adds CPU.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Republic Police is also urging motorists, who are travelling along low roads in Chimanimani , Chipinge, Chiredzi and Chikombedzi areas to be cautious and not attempt to cross flooded rivers, bridges and any other.

This comes after reports of some drivers allegedly tried to cross flooded rivers resulting in vehicles being swept away. While in some instances, people have resisted calls to abandon low areas for higher ground, as what previously happened in Tsholotsho few years ago, when floods hit.