By Rungano Dzikira
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has toured remedial infrastructure for Cyclone Idai victims in Chimanimani, where he reaffirmed Government’s commitment to reconstruct and rehabilitated Chimanimani families and infrastructure, having been ravaged by the natural disaster.
Speaking after a grand tour of West End housing project in Nhedziwa, where victims are set to be relocated, the President said that he was satisfied with the progress on the ground.
“We lost a lot of loved ones during Cyclone Idai, but we are now looking into the future with greater resolve, should such a calamity strike again, our people should be safe,” he said.
“As Government, we remain committed to giving people back their lives, holistically. We are building stronger houses, irrigation is also going to be provided. Hospitals and business centres are going to be built here,” said the President.
He then urged the community to accept the relocated families, whilst exhorting the relocated families to respect the local leadership and the laws and customs under Chief Mutambara, where they were being relocated.
The toured accommodation for the Internally Displaced People is at various stages of construction. The people are currently housed in four camps, where the number of households in each camp are as follows; Nyamatanda 30, Garikai 83, Arboretum 59, Koppa 133, and a total of 242 living outside the camps.
The Director Civil Protection Unit, Mr Nkomo highlighted that the plan was to have 720 houses at West End farm, which will be more than enough to house all the families who were affected by the Cyclone.
“West End and The Flats farms have been designated to cater for the upcoming development, whereas 720 units will be built at West End farm while Flats farm has been earmarked for agricultural plots for some of the families,” he said.
His Excellency is also assessing progress on bridges, social amenities and other infrastructure in the district.
Skyline road which was not passable during and soon after the cyclone has also been reconstructed, so were two more bridges at Koppa Shopping Centre, one across Nyahode river and another one at Rusitu rivers.
