MASVINGO – The Masvingo Women’s Rights Advocacy Group (MWRAG) is mobilising support for women and children affected by the violent hailstorm that struck Masvingo on October 5, leaving homes extensively damaged and some families without adequate shelter.

MWRAG is working through its network of community monitors, together with members of the Youth Empowerment and Skills Development Association (YESDA), to identify affected and vulnerable households and refer them to Masvingo City Council and Civil Protection Unit (CPU) evacuation facilities for emergency assistance.

Published reports indicate that the storm, accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds, ripped roofs from homes, shattered windows and damaged vehicles, solar panels and other property. Flash flooding was also reported in parts of the city, with preliminary assessments indicating that more than 60 houses or households were affected.

Mucheke and Rujeko halls have been opened as temporary shelters for families whose homes were severely damaged, while Masvingo City Council and the District CPU continue to assess the extent of the destruction and the immediate needs of affected residents.

MWRAG is particularly concerned about the disproportionate impact of the disaster on women and children, especially pregnant women, lactating mothers, women with disabilities, older women, female-headed households and other vulnerable groups.

The organisation’s community-level observations indicate extensive damage across residential areas, including shattered windowpanes and damaged roofs. Of particular concern are older neighbourhoods such as Mucheke, where homes with ageing and vulnerable roofing materials require urgent assessment and support.

MWRAG believes the disaster raises serious questions about emergency preparedness and climate resilience. While authorities have activated disaster-response mechanisms and begun assessing the damage, the organisation is calling for stronger preparedness and coordinated action by government, the CPU and local authorities to better protect communities from increasingly severe weather-related disasters.

MWRAG further urges authorities and humanitarian actors to adopt a gender-responsive approach in all emergency interventions. Evacuation centres and relief programmes must adequately address the specific needs of women and children, particularly pregnant and lactating women, women and girls with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. Priority needs include food, clean water, safe accommodation, maternal healthcare, sanitation facilities and dignity supplies.

The organisation is also calling on humanitarian organisations, development partners, businesses and well-wishers to complement government efforts by providing immediate humanitarian relief and longer-term recovery support to affected households.

As damage assessments and emergency interventions continue, MWRAG and its community monitors will prioritise identifying vulnerable women and children, documenting their needs and connecting affected households with available emergency assistance…By Staff Writer