‘Zimbabwe stands with you’ – Mnangagwa conveys condolences to SA after deadly floods in KZN

Zimbabwe

Cape Town – Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has conveyed his condolences to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa after record rains sparked floods and mudslides that killed over 300 people.

According to the state-owned Herald newspaper, Mnangagwa said he was deeply shocked and saddened by the loss of lives in KZN.

“I watched with absolute horror as many settlements and homes were flooded and swept away, with vital infrastructure, buildings, roads and bridges getting damaged,” the report quoted him as saying.

Mnangagwa also took to his Twitter page on Wednesday and wrote: “Horrifying news from SA today. My deepest sympathies to all those affected by the flooding and to the great people of South Africa.

“Zimbabwe stands with you @CyrilRamaphosa.”

Ramaphosa on Wednesday met with devastated families in the province.

In the township of Clermont, where homes are precariously perched on hillsides, he met a family who suffered the deaths of four children after a wall weakened by rains collapsed on them on Monday night.

“I have to come and see for myself the damage,” Ramaphosa said as he consoled the family.

ALSO READ | AS IT HAPPENED | KZN floods ‘catastrophe of enormous proportions’, says Cyril Ramaphosa

“We see such tragedies hitting other countries like Mozambique, Zimbabwe, but now we are the affected ones,” the president said.

Ramaphosa described the deadly floods as a “catastrophe”.

“Bridges have collapsed. Roads have collapsed. People have died… this is a catastrophe of enormous proportions,” he said, addressing a local community after inspecting the damage from the floods.

KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday declared a state of disaster in the province.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu 

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