By Bevan Musoko
… praises security forces
Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, Cde Victor Matemadanda yesterday visited victims of Cyclone Idai and various aid distribution centres in Chimanimani as part of an assessment of Government rescue and relief efforts.
Cde Matemadanda first toured the Silverstream main aid distribution camp before travelling to another aid distribution camp at Skyline near Chimanimani. While at Skyline, members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces briefed the Deputy Minister on the various on-going search and rescue activities to account for people who are still missing in Ngangu and Rusitu, which were the worst affected areas by the cyclone.
A senior ZDF member told the Deputy Minister that they have deployed troops in Ngangu and Rusitu who are working with locals to search mountains of rubble and boulders for survivors and dead bodies. It was disclosed that, with the assistance of sniffer dogs from South Africa, the search teams had identified 16 points in Ngangu where trapped people could be located, while nine points were identified in Rusitu.
It was also disclosed that a tremor hit Ngangu area in December 2018 while another tremor was felt on 14 March 2019, a day before the devastating cyclone obliterated parts of the District capital, leaving entire families, either dead or missing.
The Deputy Minister was told that other soldiers were deployed at Silverstream, Machongwe, Wengezi where they are working with other Government departments, non-governmental organisations and other aid agencies in coordinating and distributing aid. It was disclosed that the soldiers are providing security at the distribution centres and escorting the delivery trucks.
The Zimbabwe National Army has 14 trucks distributing aid. The senior ZDF member disclosed that the aid distribution exercise was being led by the Department of Social Welfare, while the ZDF was playing a supporting role.
In response, Cde Matemadanda expressed Government satisfaction with the systems put in place to rescue and assist the cyclone victims. He also thanked the various agencies working day and night to ameliorate the plight of the cyclone victims.
The Deputy Minister thanked the security forces for putting national interests ahead of their comfort during the disaster. He hinted that Government was considering ways to reward them for their resilience during the disaster.
"We, as the leadership, are aware of the difficult conditions under which you are operating. Government is aware of that. We are looking at ways to acknowledge and reward such dedication once these missions are over."
Cde Matemadanda, who is also Secretary General of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, was accompanied by Chairpersons of the Association from the country's ten provinces.
