SOUTHERN PROVINCE

MUHANGA — Days of heavy rains have left scores of residents of Muhanga homeless, crops destroyed and three people killed, district officials said this Wednesday.

According to the district officials eight of the 12 Sectors are most affected; Nyamabuye, Shogwe and Cyeza Sectors are the worst hit.

"At least 150 hectares of cassava worth Frw12 millions, 101 hectares of banana plantations, 27 of maize, and 23 of Soya beans have been destroyed by recent rains,” said Jonathan Sunzu, an official in charge of agriculture and livestock.

He also added that "the rains have also left three people dead and two of the victims were struck by lightning and this is a natural disaster which has cost 25% of the districts’ output on the farmlands”.

Wednesday rains left twenty houses destroyed in various zones in Ruvumera and Gahogo cells, most road signpost dropped and trees have started withering due to enormous loss of leaves and various farmlands eroded.

Residents said that the rains have been extraordinary and unusual and called for the local government to intervene before disaster sours.

"The rains have destroyed everything I possessed and it is going to be a hard time to survive after all my maize and beans have been destroyed. If there is any help, let the government intervene before we die of hunger,” Jacqueline Mukarubunga, a peasant said.

Despite the fact that some district leaders down play the impact of the rains on food security and farmers’ income in the long run, some residents insist that the rains are unusual and may lead to increase of food prices and starvation.

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