Border jumpers feared dead trying to cross flooded Limpopo river

By Tichaona Sibanda
11 January 2007

There are unconfirmed reports that as many as 30 border jumpers from Zimbabwe could have been swept away by the flooded Limpopo river last week.

On Thursday police in Beitbridge denied reports of any border jumpers drowning although residents in the town say a high number of people were killed and many more were left homeless after flash floods swept through large parts of the country’s southern districts.

Heavy rains that had fallen since 31 December only ended on Monday this week having caused isolated incidents of flooding in the country. Floodwaters have reportedly destroyed crops in some border lying areas of Shashe, Pande and Chikwarakwara.

Major roads in these areas have also been rendered impassable as a result of incessant rain since the new year but the full impact of the floods is still unknown as areas are still completely cut off.

Beitbridge resident George Gotore told Newsreel from the border town on Thursday that the Limpopo rose rapidly during the festive season forcing many of the border jumpers to put off plans of crossing the flooded river.

‘The town is full of news that many of those who were impatient were swept away trying to cross the crocodile infested river. Since most of the border jumpers are not people from Beitbridge it is extremely difficult to verify the reports,’ Gotore said.

Three years ago, the United Nations launched a multimillion-dollar project to prevent a recurrence of the massive loss of life caused by flooding along the Limpopo river.

The project, funded by the UN Environment Programme’s UNEP wing of the Global Environment Facility and executed by the UN Human Settlements Programme, HABITAT, was expected to improve the way land along the river is managed. It was also expected to boost the ability of governments, local authorities and communities to respond to extreme flooding events and establish early-warning systems. It is not clear however if Zimbabwe is actively involved in this exercise.