One dead and hundreds homeless after Dineo wrecks havoc

Hundreds of people and at least one person died after Dineo wrecked havoc in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces. Dineo had originally been categorised as a cyclone before being downgraded and classified as a tropical depression/tropical storm.

Tslotsho District in Matebeleland North was the worst affected. The Civil Protection Unit had to call in the Air Force of Zimbabwe to rescue close to half a thousand people who were marooned. TheAFZ was airlifting people from affected villages to Sipepa Secondary School and Sipepa Hospital. However, most of the villagers who were rescued were unable to salvage anything. The helicopters could only carry 16 people at a time.

Minister of local government Saviour Kasukuwere said that some of the affected people had requested relocation.