Gift Mashoko
Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has played a pivotal role in the rescue of St Charles Lwanga School Children in Chimanimani.
In a press statement released yesterday, Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Alphios Makotore informed the country that they successfully came to the rescue of the School Children and worked flat out in its rescue efforts to evacuate the injured and dead.
“Three infantry Brigade soldiers were heavily involved in rescue operations to evacuate the injured and the dead to hospitals in Mutare and Chipinge, respectively.
“Two school children and one security guard died in a massive land slide that came about as a result of rainy storms caused by Cyclone Idai that hit the Eastern parts of the country from 14 March 2019. The deceased were ferried to Chipinge Hospital Mortuary by the Chipinge District Police Officer,” he said.
He also highlighted how some injured had been rescued.
“Commander 3 Infantry Brigade Brigadier General, Joe Muzvidziwa used his personal vehicle to ferry 5 injured school children while two more injured children and a teacher were evacuated using another military vehicle.
The rest of the children affected by the disaster were taken to Mutare and Chipinge using Army trucks, that is troop carrying vehicles,” he said.
Netizens on social media have commended ZNA and other Government Departments efforts in trying to help the affected.
Political Activist, Jones Musara on his Twitter page posted, “Our ZNA busy helping victims with food as deployed by President Mnangagwa kudhara dhara. Ngazviyende mberi!”
Cyber troll Tatenda @ttgono tweeted, “Relief is already being distributed to the cyclone victims. Grateful for the donations coming thru as well as the effort from members of the army and civilians who are seeing to the safety of those in need of help.”
Updating on ZNA activities in Chipinge, Zimbabwe Media Review posted, “ZNA helps in efforts to pull out a bus stuck on a road near Chipinge. ZNA Special Forces (Commandos) conducting search and rescue missions in Chimanimani. With roads blocked, some units had to abandon their trucks and move in by foot and cross rivers, said Minister of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Perrence Shiri. Air support initially hindered by rain but some choppers deployed.”
Relatedly, the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has released information on the twitter handle saying, “The ZNA engineers have managed to create a detour at the previously impassable Mutare -Chipinge Road near Jopa. That way Aid can now pass through.”
This is against the lies and misinformation people are spreading on social media that the army is not doing anything on ground.
This is not the first time the ZNA has assisted people in need during natural disasters. In 2014, members of the army offered help to victims of the Tokwe Mukosi disaster who were affected by floods in Masvingo. In 2013, they also offered assistance in the Muzarabani area in Mashonaland Central Province where the Zambezi River affected villagers with floods.
