Tragedy strikes as sawdust landslide claims lives of a Mutasa teenager and her infant niece
In a devastating incident at Wattle Company’s Nyanga Pine Estate, a young teenager from Mutasa and her four-month-old niece tragically lost their lives when their house was engulfed by a sawdust landslide. The catastrophe occurred a week ago, following a week of heavy rains that had battered the province.
Upon visiting the scene, The Manica Post discovered the remnants of the house buried beneath a layer of burnt sawdust, a grim aftermath of the landslide. Only a two-roomed blair toilet remained standing amidst the destruction.
Mrs Victoria Jakazi, the managing director of Wattle Company, expressed deep sorrow over the incident during an interview at the site. She confirmed that the bodies of 17-year-old Perpetua Muzingembuya and her infant niece were swiftly retrieved after the house was obliterated by the landslide. Mrs Jakazi stated, “This is a sad incident and we have since evacuated everyone from the compound village that has been there since the 1990s. We have never experienced such an incident before and we are commiserating with the grieving family.” The company has also pledged to cover all funeral expenses, offering support during this difficult time.
The compound village, which had housed approximately 100 individuals, has been evacuated to Selbourne Primary School while they await relocation. Mutasa’s Acting District Development Coordinator, Mr Tedious Beto, confirmed the evacuation and assured that efforts were underway to provide assistance to the survivors and facilitate their relocation.
Anna Bhero, a survivor of the tragic incident, shared the harrowing experience, revealing that they lost property worth thousands of dollars due to the landslide. She sadly added that even the salvaged belongings were rendered unusable.
As the community grapples with this heart-wrenching loss, efforts are being made to extend support to those affected and to ensure their well-being.
