The rains bring joy to many people, especially farmers who can start working in their fields. For others, the showers are a fresh beginning. But some residents of Budiriro were not so lucky. Their houses were built on wetlands and got flooded. They were left stranded when the waters rose.
In December 2023, some people in Budiriro had their homes submerged. Some were even trapped by the floodwaters. They had built on a wetland without thinking about how dangerous it could be when heavy rains came. Cleopatra Marwa was one of those residents. She lost her six-year-old son Agu in the 2023 floods.
Cleopatra still remembers the pain of losing her child. But she is thankful that the government stepped in to help. They built new flats in Dzivarasekwa Extension. President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opened these homes on August 8th. Cleopatra says she wasn't sure if they would really get new houses at first. But when she went to the opening ceremony, she knew it was real. She is glad that no other mother will have to go through what she did. When it rains, she can still hear her son screaming and people crying in her mind. December is a hard month for her because of those memories.
Cleopatra is very happy with her new home. She says she could never have afforded to build a place like this on her own. The flats have everything they need, even running water. Her neighbor Judith Mukonachimwe also talks about how they used to have to run for cover when the rains came. But that is just a distant memory now, thanks to the help from the government. At first, Judith thought it was too good to be true. But when the President came for the opening, she was overjoyed. Now she isn't afraid of the clouds and storms anymore.
In December 2023, some people in Budiriro had their homes submerged. Some were even trapped by the floodwaters. They had built on a wetland without thinking about how dangerous it could be when heavy rains came. Cleopatra Marwa was one of those residents. She lost her six-year-old son Agu in the 2023 floods.
Cleopatra still remembers the pain of losing her child. But she is thankful that the government stepped in to help. They built new flats in Dzivarasekwa Extension. President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opened these homes on August 8th. Cleopatra says she wasn't sure if they would really get new houses at first. But when she went to the opening ceremony, she knew it was real. She is glad that no other mother will have to go through what she did. When it rains, she can still hear her son screaming and people crying in her mind. December is a hard month for her because of those memories.
Cleopatra is very happy with her new home. She says she could never have afforded to build a place like this on her own. The flats have everything they need, even running water. Her neighbor Judith Mukonachimwe also talks about how they used to have to run for cover when the rains came. But that is just a distant memory now, thanks to the help from the government. At first, Judith thought it was too good to be true. But when the President came for the opening, she was overjoyed. Now she isn't afraid of the clouds and storms anymore.
