By Bevan Musoko in Chimanimani
Government has mounted massive reconstruction efforts to restore life back to normality following the massive loss of lives and destruction of property and infrastructure after Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
Government is working in partnership with various partners such as World Vision, Red Cross, World Food Programme and Churches, to re-open access roads, construction of bridges, classroom blocks, toilets, houses and other livelihood support services in the affected areas.
Several local construction companies have been contracted by Government to work on various construction projects. Bitumen World company is working on various bridges and roads, among them the Charter to Machongwe road and bridges.
JR Goddard Company completed the Chimanimani-Wengezi highway and bridge near Lydia Chimonyo School. It completed the Mvumvumvu 1 Bridge and is currently working on Mvumvumvu 2 Bridge near Nedziwa Business Centre. The same company is also working on the bridge that links Muusha Primary School with Chimanimani.
Another local company, Masimba Construction is working on the Charter-Nyahode Bridge, where progress is at around sixty percent. The same company is also working on four small bridges near Skyline junction.
Exodus company is also working on various re-construction projects in Chimanimani.
The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe has built a classroom block at Brightside Primary School, ward 13, while construction of toilets is underway. At Chimanimani Primary and High Schools, teachers’ house and toilets were completed. Similarly, students’ toilets were constructed at Dzingire, Kwirire, Fairfield and Muchadziya Primary Schools.
A visit to the various areas witnessed a hive of activities by the various companies that have brought a measure of live activity coupled with noise by the heavy plant and earth moving machinery to the otherwise traumatised communities still counting their losses following the cyclone.
Even the local business community is recording some brisk business as the workers from the various companies and the non-governmental community also providing other relief services have brought demand for goods and services which the local affected communities would otherwise not afford.
A survey in Ngangu Township revealed that prices of overnight accommodation have shot up due to demand by the NGO’s staff moving in and visiting the area to access the effects of Idai.
Some families have converted their houses into lodges to cash in on the demand for accommodation by staff members from various organisations involved in the multi-faced interventions.
Assistant Chimanimani District Development Coordinator, Lloyd Kasima revealed that local leadership and residents were optimistic that by mid-2020, most of the access roads and bridges would have been completed.
“With the work that has been completed so far and the rate at which ongoing projects are taking shape coupled with the seriousness that Government has shown in the face of this crisis, we are sure by 2020 some certain level of normalcy would have been restored to this great region,” said Kasima.
