HEAVY RAINS HIT HARARE

HEAVY rains accompanied by strong winds and hail pounded Harare and some parts of the country uprooting trees and destroying various properties yesterday.The rains left some parts of Harare without electricity.Some of the affected areas had power restored soon after the storm while others still had no electricity last night.Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira confirmed the power outage after the storm.“The violent storm covered the greater part of Harare destroying trees and power cables resulting in the power cuts,” he said.Mr Gwasira said Zesa had managed to restore power in some of the areas.He said some of the areas would continue without power because of manpower shortages and material needed in the affected areas.Mr Gwasira said power would be restored today.
The Meteorological Services Department yesterday said the storms were confined over the northern districts of Zimbabwe.


MSD acting deputy director Mr Reynold Ndoro said the rains were received in Mashonaland, Harare and North of Manicaland.Mr Ndoro said thunderstorm activity was expected to cover the whole country by last night. The rains were, however, expected not to last for a long period. In Harare, the heavy rains uprooted trees in and around the city resulting in several roads being blocked. Most motorists had to negotiate their way past the felled trees.Four people escaped unscathed when a giant tree fell on the car they were travelling in at the corner of 4th Street/Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.
Michael Makarichi of Glen View 8, his daughter Maybe Mukanyiwa, Givemore Mutsika and Mariah Meki survived the accident.


The MSD, however, indicated that the weather would be cloudy today with morning rain and drizzle over Masvingo, Matabeleland South, south of Manicaland and Bulawayo.“However, the remainder of the country including Harare, Mashonaland, north of Manicaland and Matabeleland North should receive scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms.”The MSD said it would continue to monitor the situation and advise the public accordingly.