The University of Zimbabwe

Department of Civil Engineering

Assignment Title: Tokwe-Mukosi Disaster in February

2014

Due Date: 11 March 2019

Group Members

Bryan Mazango R166149B

Piniel Chiwanziro R166157D

Sharon C Sauramba R169338Z

Tonhorai Mutsikadowo R166240F

Farai N Chipfakacha R166120Q

Engineering projects often cause unimaginable disaster if things are not properly planned and
all the possible risks taken into account. One such event which was caused by not anticipating
all the possible problem that could arise during the project is the Tokwe Mukosi Disaster which
happened in February 2014 after the torrential rainfall pounded in the Masvingo Province. The
heavy rains and subsequent floods adversely affected twelve villages, explicitly Chekai, Jahwa,
Zifunzi, Mharadzano, Chkandigwa and Vhomo in Nemauzhe communal lands; and Tagwirei,
Ndove, Matandizvo, Chikosi, Mashenjere and Nongera in Neruvanga communal lands.The
Tokwe Mukosi floods were declared a national disaster by the President of Zimbabwe, His
Excellency Robert Mugabe in February 2014. Heavy rains in late January and early February
2014 resulted in flooding around Tokwe Mukosi Dam with displacement of people, coupled
with destruction of livestock and property. Before the flooding from 5 February 2014, a total
of 611 families had been relocated and integrated within communities in Masangula and
Chisase sections of Nuanetsi ranch. The flooding which caused the partial collapse of the
TokweMukosi Dam, rendered over 1 500 families homeless.

The victims were relocated to temporary transit camps especially Chingwizi Transit Camp in
Mwenezi. The unanticipated heavy rains pounded Zimbabwe from January until present
leading to flooding of the dam basin where people were settled. Because of the delays in
transfer, the heavy rainfalls have aggravated the situation into emergency due to increase in
volume of water in the dam reservoir. The volume increases 5-fold than expected inflow
causing even a threat of overflowing of the dam. The increase in volume contributed to flooding
of the basin of the dam, marooning the houses and fields in the upstream. This posed a threat
to the households in the upstream who were at high risk of drowning. As a result of the threat
and flooding, the government put in place an emergency evacuation intervention through the
Civil Protection Unit utilizing the Army helicopters to evacuate people who were marooned by
water, their assets and livestock to transit pick up points in and around Masvingo and Chivi
Districts. The population were placed into accessible pickup points where land transport had
to pick the people and transport them to the relocation sites.

The major cause of the Tokwe-Mukosi disaster was excessive rainfall received in area during
the year 2014, which was coupled by a spillage of water from the partial collapse of the dam
wall of Tokwe-Mukosi. The partial collapse of the dam wall caused some of the water which
was in the dam to overflow causing floods. The heavy rains in the January-February caused
excess runoff to be generated causing floods.
Tokwe-Mukosi disaster had some negative impacts at the people who were living in the
flooded area and also those who were in the vicinity. These impacts directly affected the
human welfare as thousands of families were evacuated to other safe places like Chingwizi
Transit Camp. People lost their property, livestock and goods but were never compensated
which increased poverty among the people who were living in Toke-Mukosi. The camps
were they were settled were squalid with few toilets and temporary, makeshift shelter as
land ownership is still controversial as the land was too small. The schools were located far
away from the tents making it difficult for the majority to commute on foot to school every
day. Prostitution became a rife due to dropouts and lack of moral activities in the camp.
Early marriages in the camp due to food shortages which saw parents giving those man
with better status their daughters. Corruption which led to people in the camp not getting
their donations from non-governmental organisations.

The floods in the Tokwe-Mukosi area also had environmental impacts which were negative.
Clean water sources were polluted by the floods making the area inhabitable. There was
death of wildlife as animal drowned in the water. The soil surfaces were eroded which
resulted in the soils losing their fertility. The land for agriculture was destroyed by the
floods. The landscape of the area was distorted as some trees were uprooted by the floods.

The environmental impact assessment of the disaster was in catergory A. The impact
assessment was catergorised A since the disaster involved involuntary resettlement of
people and their belongings.