REGIONAL FLOODING LARGELY BYPASSES ZIMBABWE

UNCLAS HARARE 000829

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/EPS, AF/S, EB/IFD/ODF, ED/ESC/ENR
USDOC FOR 2037/ERIC HENDERSON
TREASURY FOR ED BARBER, BARAK HOFFMAN
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR JFRAZER
LONDON FOR CGURNEY
UNCLASSIFIED

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PARIS FOR BISA WILLIAMS
DEPT PASS USTR FOR ROSA WHITAKER


E. O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV EAID ECON PGOV ZI
SUBJECT: REGIONAL FLOODING LARGELY BYPASSES ZIMBABWE



1. DISASTER DECLARATIONS AND REPORTS OF RECENT FLOODING IN
NEIGHBORING MOZAMBIQUE AND MALAWI CAUSED US TO CONTACT THE
GOZ AND DETERMINE THE EXISTENCE AND EXTENT OF COLLATERAL
FLOOD DAMAGE IN ZIMBABWE. NATURAL DISASTER TRACKING AND
ASSISTANCE COORDINATION IS HANDLED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF
CIVIL PROTECTION IN THE MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
NATIONAL HOUSING. ACCORDING TO THE LATEST STATUS REPORT
ISSUED FEBRUARY 23 BY THE CIVIL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, THE
CURRENT, PHYSICAL FLOOD DAMAGE IN ZIMBABWE IS MINIMAL WITH
CROSS-BORDER DISEASE OUTBREAK (CHOLERA, DIARRHEA AND
MALARIA) CONSTITUTING THE BIGGEST THREAT. THE AFFECTED
AREAS AND DAMAGE ARE:

= MANICA PROVINCE (BORDERING MOZAMBIQUE): FLOODING WITHIN
THE HONDE VALLEY 10 KM INSIDE MOZAMBIQUE IS RISING AND COULD
SPILL OVER INTO ZIMBABWE. CASES OF MALARIA AND DIARRHEA
REPORTED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER, WHICH IS VERY POROUS
IN THIS REGION.

= MANICALAND PROVINCE: SOME LANDSLIDES OCCURRED IN THE
FOOTHILLS EAST OF CHIMANIMANI, WITH NO REPORTED INJURIES. A
FOOTBRIDGE OVER THE NYAHONDE RIVER, ALSO WASHED AWAY DURING
CYLCONE ELINE LAST YEAR, WAS AGAIN WASHED AWAY. TEA ESTATES
REPORT THAT THEIR WORKERS ARE INCREASINGLY MAROONED IN
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MOZAMBIQUE BY THE FLOODED RUYA RIVER, AND THE ONLY SCHOOL IN
THE AREA (OPERATED BY THE OWNERS OF THE KATIYO TEA ESTATE)
HAS CLOSED DUE TO THE ATTENDANCE DROP.

= MASHONALAND CENTRAL: SOME CROPS, HOMESTEADS, GRANARIES
AND TWO FOOTBRIDGES WERE AFFECTED BY FLOODING THAT HAS SINCE
SUBSIDED. THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR'S OFFICE WILL BE
LOANED FOUR MINISTERIAL 4X4 VEHICLES TO CONDUCT SITE
SURVEYS, AND TRUCKS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE IF RELIEF
SUPPLIES NEED TO BE DELIVERED. THE ZAMBEZI RIVER HAS
OVERFLOWED ITS BANKS IN KANYEMBA (WHERE ZAMBIA, MOZAMBIQUE
AND ZIMBABWE MEET),A BORDER CONTROL/POLICE STATION IS
FLOODED AND ONLY ONE NURSE REMAINS AT THE LOCAL CLINIC.

= MASVINGO PROVINCE: TWO SMALL ROAD BRIDGES ON THE
MASVINGO/BEITBRIDGE ROAD WERE WASHED AWAY BY RUNOFF FROM
LOCAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. TRAFFIC HAS BEEN DIVERTED TO
SECONDARY ROADS/CROSSINGS, AND MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND
ARMY ENGINEERS WILL UTILIZE BAILEY BRIDGES AS A TEMPORARY
MEASURE.


2. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE WEEKLY STATUS REPORTS
FROM THE CIVIL PROTECTION UNIT AND OTHER SOURCES OF
INFORMATION, AND ADVISE WHEN AND IF FLOOD CONDITIONS WORSEN
DURING THE TAIL-END OF THIS RAINY SEASON. WHILE DAMAGE TO
INFRASTRUCTURE AND DWELLINGS HAS BEEN LOW TO DATE, CROP
DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE ERRATIC AND AT TIMES HEAVY RAINS IS AT
PRESENT A MORE SERIOUS CONCERN. THE IMPACT ON CROP YIELDS
WILL TAKE TIME TO BE QUANTIFIED THOUGH IT IS ALREADY KNOWN
THAT DRY CONDITIONS IN MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN THIRD OF THE
COUNTRY, AND RECENT, VERY HEAVY RAINS IN MASHONALAND CENTRAL
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HAVE DRASTICALLY REDUCED BOTH CASH AND FOOD CROP YIELDS.
MISSION'S REGULAR FOOD REPORTING MESSAGES WILL CONTINUE TO
ADDRESS THE TOPIC OF FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND THE NEED FOR
IMPORTS OR RELIEF.

IRVING

UNCLASSIFIED

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