The Sunday News
Walter Mswazie recently in Bikita
ZANU-PF National Political Commissar, Retired Lieutenant-General Engelbert Rugeje, has appealed to development partners in Bikita to assist in the reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed by Cyclone Idai last month.
Speaking after a handover ceremony of donated goods that included food items, blankets and clothes to over 4 000 families affected by Cyclone Idai at Bikita Training Centre last week, Rtd Lt-Gen Rugeje said while more food was still pouring in, there was a need to shift focus to infrastructure destroyed in the district.
He said most areas were no-longer accessible as the roads and bridges had been destroyed with a number of schools, churches, clinics and business centres having suffered different levels of destruction. He said while the Government had already made a commitment towards reconstructing damaged infrastructure, people from the district should take a leading role in making sure that normalcy was restored.
The Government has availed $100 million meant to address the problems brought by Cyclone Idai and that include roads rehabilitation which received $20 million. The fund will also cater for the rehabilitation of social amenities. “We appeal to stakeholders, especially people of Bikita to help in the reconstruction of our infrastructure. There are a number of schools which were affected due to the Cyclone Idai, so are clinics, business centres and roads. People should come together and complement Government efforts in restoring our infrastructure. We should all work with haste and unity of purpose for things to get back to normal in our districts,” said Rtd Lt-Gen Rugeje.
He praised the Civil Protection Unit in Bikita for working tirelessly in ensuring that every affected household received assistance and urged villagers to embrace the spirit of giving, especially in times of disasters of that nature. Cyclone Idai which hit the country last month had Chimanimani in Manicaland, as its epicentre caused a lot of destruction killing 268 people and leaving a number of others missing.
Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Cde July Moyo who is also CPU national chairman also visited Bikita District in Masvingo Province to have an appreciation of the magnitude of the destruction caused by the cyclone that claimed five lives in Bikita East. A total of 344 deaths have since been confirmed in affected areas.
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