Mongu town was yesterday hit by a stormy rain which left several public and private buildings with their roofs blown off.
A random check by ZANIS crew found houses, government offices which included a newly constructed Health Center in Mulambwa, National Registration Office and Zampost office roofs partially blown off.
Zampost Western Regional Manager Mr. Humphrey Malesu whose offices were not spared said the stormy rains destroyed three offices in the building.
Mr. Malesu disclosed that all documentations in the affected offices were soaked by the rains
Meanwhile, Mongu District Commissioner Maurice Litula who was found in the field assessing the effects caused by the rains expressed sadness saying his office will take stock of all the affected buildings and families and find emergency interventions.
The stormy rains came around 17:00 hours yesterday when many people were knocking off and caught the majority unaware.
The extent of the damage is yet to be done through the disaster management office.
And in Chipata, some crop fields in Msekera area of Chipata district have been damaged due to heavy rains the district experienced on Monday night.
Chipata district Commissioner Kalunga Zulu confirmed this to ZANIS in Chipata today.
Mr Zulu who is also Chipata District Disaster Management Committee chairperson said most fields in the area have been destroyed due to the heavy downfall.
He said the crops which have been fully destroyed are cotton, sunflower, cowpeas, tobacco and maize.
Mr. Zulu has described the situation as disastrous and requiring serious attention.
The district commissioner said his office has already engaged the ministry of agriculture to assess the extent of the damage.
He said an urgent meeting has been called to assess the situation in the area.
In Kasama, fiveE families of Kasama have been displaced by a hailstorm which hit the town last night.
The stranded families are now appealing for assistance from government and well wishers.
The rains which started between 19:00 and 20:00 hours last night blew off the entire roof of a flat which the five families were occupying.
A check by ZANIS this morning found the affected families seated helplessly with their properties wet and their electrical appliances damaged.
And Kasama District Commissioner Kalanga Bwalya and Kasama Mayor Francis Kombe have sympathized with the affected families.
The DC has since called on the Provincial Disaster Management Unit to come to the aid of the affected families.
In a similar incident, the rains have left a trail of trees uprooted and some maize fields damaged.
Some of the roads affected are Zambia road which leads to the provincial administration and has been blocked forcing motorists to use other means.
Meanwhile, a motorist Pillion Kaputa has advised the council to cut down the trees that pose a risk of falling down to avoid loss of life and damage to property.
And Kasama Mayor Francis Kombe said the hail storm is a natural calamity which the council should not be held responsible for in the event of an accident.
what about statehouse??
These cant be real roofs. Rebuild with storm proof material next time or get a huge umbrella for the town
HAHAHAHA..SOME COMENTS KUTI WALEPUKA MUKUSEKA…ATI BUY A HUGE UMBRELLA FOR THE TOWN
Heavy storms should never be a threat because their was no flooding, those roofs more especially public institutions must have ant magnetic roofs so that as the rain falls its repelled by the roof hence does not land on the roofing and changes direction to the ground
And as usual the weather and women forcasted in their usual simple language “cloudy with some chances of rains in a few places” what useless forecasting
what is your forcasting ZEDMAN?
Here again is another example why using millions of tax dollars to build a stadium is misplaced when the whole infrastructure in the area is in shambles!!