By Farai D Hove| As the Zimbabwe Defence Forces complained that they are not able to airlift their citizens in Manicaland, the neighbouring South Africa dispatched its military to flood-ravaged Malawi and Mozambique in the aftermath of the ongoing torrential rains and Tropical Cyclone Idai. The cyclone caused a landfall along the east African seaboard, as it also invaded Zimbabwe causing the deaths of at least 70 by Sunday evening. .

The SANDF earlier on, on Saturday said it had been called on to assist  in support of the humanitarian efforts in both Malawi and Mozambique currently facing serious floods. By Sunday evening, events appeared as if Zimbabwe had not bothered to request assistance with ministers merely complaining about how the area was impenetrable for the military. Written requests by ZimEye.com had not been responded to at the close of day on Sunday.

Meanwhile the SANDF in a statement said:

“The SANDF has committed air assets and personnel to supplement joint inter departmental, inter agency and multi-national efforts as authorised by the President of the Republic of South Africa.

“A team of 10 military health practitioners with search and rescue air assets were dispatched to Malawi on Saturday. Front elements were also deployed to Mozambique to assess the situation with the view to assist on the ground for humanitarian purposes,” the SANDF said in a brief statement.