Govt Considers Relocating Bikita Families After 10 Tonne Boulder Falls From Hill

Government is mulling relocating four families in Ziki communal lands, Bikita, amid fears of rockfall and mudslides following heavy rains induced by Cyclone Idai.

A boulder weighing more than 10 tonnes fell from the summit of Mapadze Hill, narrowly missing two homesteads. The incident, which happened at around 8am on Saturday has fuelled fears that Mapadze Hill was close to a volcanic eruption. However a seismologist at MSD’s Goetz Observatory earthquake National Data Centre in Bulawayo Mr Kwangwari Marimira dismissed the reports. He said Zimbabwe does not have a history of volcanic eruptions although he noted that nature was subject to change. Marimira said they were no confirmed reports of an earthquake or volcanic eruption in Bikita over the past few days.

Bikita district assistant administrator Mr Innocent Matingwina who visited the area yesterday said they were going to recommend relocation of four families living close to Mapadze Hill.