By CCN Reporter

St. Francis Xavier Primary and Detema Secondary Schools were seriously damaged by a heavy storm that ponded the Dete on 10 December 2023. The storm also caused huge destruction to the Daughters of Calvary Sisters community house. The storm which is said to have started around 4:30pm lasted for only 30minutes but had an impact that turned things up-side-down.

According to St. Francis Xavier Mission Parish Priest, Fr. Adolf Wisdom Simwinde, seven classrooms and the administration block had their roof stripped off by the storm at St. Francis Xavier Primary School while the damage at Detema Secondary School was equally huge. He confirmed that the roof of the Sisters convent was also blown away leaving the residents in the open. The sisters had to move to Bethany House which is close by, while the Postulants had to relocate to the Novitiate.

Fr. Simwinde said the storm also affected the business community, the railway station and the workers compound and it uprooted some trees and destroyed power lines. The priest also noted that the storm has destroyed sources of livelihoods for many people in Dete.

He appealed for financial and material support so that they can be able to renovate the affected buildings before the opening of the schools.