BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
The government has instructed schools in provinces likely to be hit by the cyclone to suspend classes on Friday.
In a circular, the Primary and Secondary Education ministry’s permanent secretary Tumisang Thabela said boarders must be confined to secure buildings on the day while school heads should also caution day schoolers to avoid crossing flooded rivers during the period.
The provinces that are at risk are Harare Metropolitan, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Masvingo and Matabeleland South.
“The above areas have been placed on high alert and a result of this extreme weather likelihood no pupil within the above named areas are to attend school or face to face instruction on Friday 24 February 2023,” Thabela said.
“Student boarders are to remain in their hostels and continue with their studies via alternative learning modes from the confines and safe environment.
“Heads of schools in these affected provinces are to exercise caution by notifying day school pupils not to attend school on Friday 24 February 2023 or to attempt to cross any flooded rivers.”
In March 2019, several school children died after Cyclone Idai devastated most parts of Manicaland.
According to government, other measures adopted in preparation for the cyclone include the setting up of evacuation committees in the five provinces as well as deployment of aid and medical supplies to government offices in some of the districts expected to be hardest hit by the cyclone.
The districts include Chimanimani, Chipinge, Chiredzi, Mwenezi, Beitbridge, Chivi, Masvingo rural, Zaka and Bikita.
Cyclone Freddy is tracking its ways towards the East Africa coastline and is forecast to make landfall in Mozambique in the early hours of Friday.