The first rains of 2020/21 season have not been good news to the Gokwe community which was left in darkness for at least four days not to mention loss of three lives who were stricken by lightning.
Gokwe experienced a heavy downpour which was accompanied by heavy wind which rooted up electricity pole, costing residents at least four days of electricity as narrated by the Chairperson of Gokwe Town Council, Never Gwanzura.
“Gokwe is naturally a wet area and we have been receiving heavy rains for the past days,” said Gwanzura.
“We were left in darkness for at least four days after the heavy rains fell ZESA poles. For the past days, we saw ZESA technicians trying to address the situation. We don’t know for how long we will be in darkness,” he said.
He said the situation has left businesses crippled.
“Businesses suffered heavy losses during the blackout period,” he said.
ZESA spokesperson Prisca Utete had not responded to emailed questions by the time of publishing this article.
Zimbabwe is expected to receive normal to above normal rainfall for the 2020/21 season, according to the meteorological department.
The department further said violent storms, tropical cyclones, flooding in low lying areas and storms at the onset of the season could not be ruled out.
Usually, the October rains are erratic, but more effective rains are expected from November into December.
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