President Mnangagwa yesterday surprised the people of
Chimanimani after he joined them in a community project to construct a damaged
road in Ngangu Township as part of the National Clean-up Campaign.
Initially, the community thought the President was only in
their area to address them but was shocked when he and the other political
leaders joined the queue of people who were collecting stones that were being
used to divert the flow of water that was damaging a newly constructed bridge.
It was a marvel for the people of Chimanimani as the
President took time to work with them while barking instructions.
The Head of State participated in a human conveyor belt
that was carrying rocks and rubble left in the wake of the destructive Cyclone
Idai a fortnight ago.
President Mnangagwa was flanked by MDC-T leader Dr
Thokozani Khupe and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga while other leaders and
Government officials completed the chain on either side.
To motivate the President and his workmates, Buhera West
legislator Cde Saul Nzuma started singing a South African song that boosted the
morale of the team.
The clean-up in Ngangu which the President specifically
brought forward for his delegation of fellow political leaders and himself was
symbolic as it epitomised Government’s commitment to rebuild infrastructure
destroyed by Cyclone Idai.
In his address to the people gathered at Ngangu Primary
School, President Mnangagwa explained the importance of the Clean-Up Campaign.
He said the nation will today join hands in cleaning their
communities as part of the campaign.
President Mnangagwa said one of his deputies, Cde Kembo
Mohadi, would represent him in Victoria Falls in leading the Clean-Up Campaign.
“Vice President Mohadi was supposed to be with us here
today,” he said.
“I have sent him to go and represent us at the National
Clean-Up Campaign in Victoria Falls tomorrow. I thought I should explain that
to you.”
President Mnangagwa said his second visit to Chimanimani
was in fulfilment of the agreement he had with leaders of other parties
participating in the Zimbabwe National Dialogue to come and have an
appreciation of the disaster that had fallen the people iof the eastern border
town
He briefed the people of Chimanimani on the progress that
Government had made so far in trying to locate all the missing persons after
the cyclone.
He said sniffer dogs had identified 46 places where people
were suspected to buried under rocks.
“If there are bodies there by now they are already in a bad
state,” he said.
“There are huge boulders in the places and our military
officials are not able to push them meaning that we need to deploy machinery
there. The challenge is that we need bridges for us to be able to carry the
machinery here but we are happy with the progress made so far to reconstruct
the damaged bridges.”
The President was accompanied by VP Chiwenga, leaders of
other political parties and several Cabinet ministers. Herald
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