Cyclone Idai traumatises St Charles students

When many of the students at St Charles Luwanga packed their bags at the begining of the term, it was a routine exercise in their academic lives and for all of them, none expected the drama that has unfolded in their lives in recent days would have occurred.

When it was announced there would be a cyclone which was expected to affect part’s of Manicaland not many expected the natural disaster to be as devastating as it has been. On Saturday evening reports emerged of a big stone having struck the St Charles Luwanga dining hall before going on to strike a student and a security guard after rolling into one of the school’s dorms.

With two left dead students had to leave the school in search of safer ground. Setting off by foot, students embarked on a gruesome journey in which they had to negotiate past the forests of Chimanimani all in search of safe ground. While some were marooned by the Zimbabwe National Army to Mutare, many had to walk for hours without food or water as they searched for safe ground.

Images revealed a sad story of students walking out in the mud with no certainty they would reach a safe destination. Thanks to the grace of God the children would safely get to Chipinge and breathe a huge sigh of relief as some of their parents anxiously waited for them.

At least 89 were left dead following flash floods which affected the Chimanimani and Chipinge areas. Bridges, roads and homes were destroyed as Zimbabwe was left with a humanitarian crisis on its hands.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa had to cut short his official visit to the United Arab Emirates as he declared the situation back home a state of emergency upon his return on Monday morning.