Four years on, cyclone-hit school is still in disrepair

Nearly four years after three people were killed in a rockfall at St Charles Lwanga Secondary School in eastern Zimbabwe, debris and clothing belonging to the victims have not been cleared.

The school, run by the Roman Catholic Church, was hit by the deadly Cyclone Idai in March 2019. It caused widespread infrastructure damage and killed an estimated 350 people.

The heavy rain also wiped out livestock worth millions of dollars.

After the disaster, local and international humanitarian organisations committed resources to victims and the World Bank and its implementing partners are running a four-year initiative, the Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project. 

However, these projects have not benefited the St Charles Lwanga school, where two pupils and a guard were killed and infrastructure was destroyed.

Apart from destroying the dormitory where pupils slept, the rockfall caused extensive damage to the school's dining hall. School authorities closed the dormitory and reopened with only day pupils.

“It is very traumatic to continue viewing the debris in the dormitory where our departed colleagues slept. Each time I pass through the site I feel like I want to cry. The responsible authorities should have at least cleared the debris,” said a pupil who did not want to be named.

One parent suggested the dormitory be demolished “because it brings horrific memories” to the pupils and teachers.

Local chief Chenjerai Muusha also expressed concern about the situation.

“I once raised my concern with the priest in charge at the school, [Fr Kletos] Mawango. The response I got was that there were some donors who had pledged to remove the debris, as well as reconstruct the damaged infrastructure, but they failed to fulfil their promises.

“It is a taboo in our culture for blood and clothes of deceased people going for such a long time without being removed. There are also some traditional rituals which need to be carried out at the site,” said the chief.

Approached for comment, Mawango referred questions to Vicar Kelvin Nyakupinda at the church's Mutare Diocese. Repeated efforts to get comment from him failed.

Nokuthula Matsikenyere, the Manicaland minister of state for provincial affairs and devolution, said the government had given the church land to build a new school in a safer place.

Matsikenyere’s office was one of several government departments co-ordinating post-Idai humanitarian aid.

“The school is a private institution and as government we are not responsible for whatever happens there. But since Cyclone Idai was a national disaster, government provided the school with land so [it could relocate]. I am not sure if they have started construction at the new place,” said Matsikenyere.