Former Air Force of Zimbabwe Commander, who is now the Minister of Agriculture, Perrance Shiri said that Chimanimani District now resembles the aftermath of a fullscale war after Cyclone Idai hit over the weekend. He said:
There was a lot of destruction on the facilities. The situation resembles the aftermath of a full-scale war, whereby bridges have been (washed) away and the infrastructure has been destroyed to the extent we did not expect.
Villagers in the district said that their livelihoods have been shattered and they are now looking to the government for assistance. A Chakohwa villager in Chimanimani West said Mhandarume Irrigation Scheme was totally destroyed. Said the villager:
All the water pipes are gone. We no longer have water supplies in Chakohwa. We are appealing to the government to assist as soon as possible because we will die because of poverty.
Related:
More: Newsday