Chimanimani – The air hung heavy with grief and a lingering sense of loss as families gathered at Ndima High School, a stark reminder of the devastation wrought by Cyclone Idai five years ago. A ceremony, intended to bring closure to a painful chapter, saw the handover of death certificates to relatives of 279 victims who perished in the storm, their bodies never recovered.
Among the 30 families present, Enick Makaza stood out, his heart weighed down by the burden of loss. He walked to the podium a staggering seven times, each step a testament to the unimaginable tragedy that had befallen his family. He collected death certificates for his two wives – Shylet Sabona and Letwin Jambaya – and five children – Ernest, Enrich, Silma, Shalom, and Enia Makaza – all swept away by the relentless storm from their Madhomeni home.
“Yes, this somehow consoles me and brings closure to this problem,” Makaza said, his voice thick with emotion. “I have been trying to get these civil documents so that I can know, and accept the fact that they are all dead and will never locate them. I would have loved to see all their remains, but as it stands, together with others who were affected in the same way, we just have to accept the fact that they are all gone and we will never see them again.”
Makaza recounted the harrowing events that led to his family’s demise. He described the desperate struggle to rescue his loved ones as the floodwaters rose, engulfing their home. “I had tried to rescue them from the house since a strong tide of water was almost covering the whole area. When I had instructed them to go uphill, they met a police officer who ordered them to go back, saying the water would subside. Unfortunately, the tide increased in force, and our house was struck by rock boulders, resulting in the whole family being swept away,” he said.
The ceremony, presided over by Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Engineer Benjamin Kabikira, on behalf of Minister Daniel Garwe, served as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of Cyclone Idai. The government, after a protracted five-year inquiry, has acknowledged the grim reality that the remains of the missing victims will likely never be found, leaving families to grapple with the pain of unanswered questions.
“As we commemorate this special day, authorities have determined that there is no longer any realistic chance of discovering our missing community members alive after a protracted inquiry that lasted five years,” Minister Garwe stated in a message read by his deputy. “Be advised that throughout the excruciating experience, you have been in our prayers and thoughts. I implore you to find solace in the priceless moments you spent with your loved ones.”
The ceremony also highlighted the need for greater disaster preparedness in Zimbabwe. Minister Garwe emphasised the importance of constructing more evacuation centres and warehouses across the country, acknowledging the limitations of current infrastructure. “To ensure safety of communities during emergencies, identification and construction of evacuation centres was done. In terms of storage and pre-positioning of relief materials, a warehouse was constructed at Bumba in Chimanimani. However, there is need for the construction of more evacuation centres and warehouses in the whole country,” he said.
Echoing the call for improved infrastructure, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Honourable Joshua Sacco, who is also the legislator for Chimanimani East, expressed gratitude for the government’s efforts in the post-Cyclone Idai recovery phase, but stressed the need for continued investment in the region. “We are truly humbled by the efforts done by Government in the post-Cyclone Idai recovery phase. As the people of Chimanimani, we are indeed thankful to President Mnangagwa, Government and development partners that came to our rescue during that difficult time. We realised how much we are loved as part of a caring national and global community. The build-back-better-principle saw some major infrastructural development initiatives being implemented in Chimanimani after the disaster. The Rusitu-Chipinge Road, among many other roads, schools, health facilities and houses were refurbished and constructed. We are forever grateful.
“However, I wish to mention that there is also more work that needs to be done here, especially with regards to roads that need attention. Some of the roads are impassable during the rainy season. We implore Government to prioritise Chimanimani when funds are availed for road construction,” said Deputy Minister Sacco.
The ceremony, while offering a semblance of closure for some families, underscored the enduring scars left by Cyclone Idai.
