Masvingo runs out of window panes and roofing after hailstorm

Window panes and roofing material have run out in Masvingo, with residents spending the whole day in queues following Monday’s severe hailstorm.

More than 13,500 households were affected, according to Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.

A survey by The Mirror found that more than 85% of houses in western suburbs, including Mucheke and Vic Ranch, were left with broken window panes, damaged roofs or both. Furniture, clothes and blankets were soaked, leaving families with nowhere to sleep.

Residents now need to urgently repair their homes as rains continue to pound the country’s oldest town.

Long queues have formed at hardware shops such as Halsteads and WEB Glass.

Matilda Chikava of Hillside was still in a queue at WEB Glass at 5 pm on Tuesday after joining at 11 am.

“We have finally been told to come back and collect the window panes tomorrow. We will sleep in the open again tonight because our window panes were broken and roofing sheets blown away,” she said.

“My property is soaked in water. We went to other hardware shops, but we could not get anything because they were already sold out.”

Raviro Mutazu said the hailstorm destroyed her roofing sheets and window panes.

“We have been in queues since morning, and it is now 3.30 pm. We are not sure whether we will all be assisted. We have been moving from one hardware shop to another, and all of them have long queues,” she said.

WEB Glass director Webster Chiseya said the surge in demand was unexpected.

“Business is brisk after this hailstorm. Sadly, we are making money out of a human tragedy. Since morning, clients have been waiting for their orders while they are being prepared,” he said.

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