By ANGUS SHAW
The Associated Press
Friday, December 28, 2007; 6:21 AM

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Floodwaters swept a truck down a raging river in
remote southern Zimbabwe, killing seven people, police said Friday.

The victims drowned Thursday in the Chamakarara River near the town of
Masvingo, 190 miles from the capital, Harare, police spokesman Andrew
Phiri said.

Their deaths bring the number of drownings in the southern African
nation to 21 in the past month alone, he said, with forecasts predicting
another week of heavy seasonal rains.

Hundreds of families have fled their homes. Storms have made roads
impassable and swept away low bridges.

In a village in the northern Muzarabani district, at least 600 homes
were washed away in storms, along with crops and goats, pigs and
poultry, state officials said. Two helicopters were deployed to rescue
stranded villagers.

Farmers reported widespread crop damage in a country already suffering
from a crumbling economy and the world's highest rate of inflation, as
well as daily power and water shortages.

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