No Helicopter Available To Rescue 18 Chipinge Villagers Marooned On Island

The government currently has no helicopter available to rescue 18 villagers from Chipinge who have been stranded on Lisungwe Island for the past three weeks. The island lies at the confluence of the Save and Runde rivers.

Attempts by the Zimbabwe Republic Police Sub-Aqua Unit to reach the group have so far been unsuccessful.

Speaking to Masvingo Mirror on Friday, Chipinge South MP Clifford Hlatswayo said the situation is becoming critical for the villagers from Mahenye Village in Ward 23, as water levels continue to rise each day.

He added that the group is also facing the threat of crocodiles, which have been spotted nearby.

Chipinge District Development Coordinator and District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) chairperson William Mashava said the helicopter meant to airlift the villagers is currently tied up attending to similar emergencies in Midlands Province.

For now, hope rests on wooden boats expected from Mozambican villagers, although this option carries significant risk.

Mashava said the National Civil Protection Unit has been notified and is working to coordinate further assistance. Said Mashava:

“These villagers depend on Lisungwe Island for their livelihoods, but rising water levels have made it impossible for them to leave safely.

“Some are in parts of the island not yet underwater, but they remain isolated.”

Villagers often camp on Lisungwe Island during the rainy season to make use of its fertile soils and abundant fish, despite the risks posed by seasonal flooding.

Families usually supply food by canoe, but rising water levels have made access increasingly difficult.

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