Government has identified land to relocate people who were
displaced by Cyclone Idai and those who might still be in areas prone to
natural disasters, President Mnangagwa has said.
He was speaking in Mutare after a briefing with the
provincial Department of Civil Protection officials yesterday. The President is
here to meet 13 chiefs from Chimanimani and Chipinge, and he said he will
consult them before the relocation of their people to other areas.
“I am grateful for the commitment and perseverance that has
been exhibited towards restoring disrupted lives of our communities which were
affected by Cyclone Idai,” he said.
“I am advised that land has been identified for people who
lost their homes to be moved elsewhere, where it is safe and not prone to
natural disasters such as cyclones.
“Government is mobilising resources to construct houses for
them. The private sector has also pledged to support this initiative.”
President Mnangagwa said the meeting with chiefs was a way
of atoning for not consulting with them on various issues that might have
arisen in response to the disaster.
“We have also come back to meet with traditional leaders in
Chimanimani and Chipinge.
“As the leadership, we realised that when the disaster
occurred, we all focused on helping those affected.
“We proceeded to bury the dead where need-be and remove those
whom we considered to be in unsafe areas. We also planned to move people to
other places with the will to mitigate any further attacks from cyclones.
“But in doing this, we overlooked the need to inform the
chiefs that this is what we are doing. We are moving people from places that
they have
traditionally belonged, where their ancestors are. We
should make sure we follow tradition. We should not trample on people’s
traditions.”
President Mnangagwa said he would also hold meetings with
traditional leaders from Masvingo and Mashonaland East whose areas were
affected by the cyclone.
He encouraged those involved in rehabilitation works in the
affected areas to remain resolute to ensure that normalcy returns as soon as
possible.
“We are not through yet; we still have a lot of work to
do,” said President Mnangagwa. “The task remains to continue to rebuild
schools, bridges, hospitals and dams. Our people across the board continue to
give moral and material support in an endeavour to restore normalcy, not only
to Manicaland, but to Masvingo as well as Mashonaland East.”
President Mnangagwa commended corporates and
non-governmental organisations that had pledged to assist in the reconstruction
of various infrastructure in the disaster-hit areas.
“We want to see all children in schools when the second
term begins,” he said. “Winter is coming, we don’t want any families to be in
the open. We have enough tents for everyone. No family should suffer the cold
outside.”
President Mnangagwa said the Ministry of Home Affairs would
provide identity documents to all those who had lost them.
“We have people who lost all identification, medical
records and medications,” he said. “This should be addressed. People should be
grouped in their communities and we will have the Ministry of Home Affairs come
to them. They should get these documents free of charge.”
Cyclone Idai devastated areas in Chimanimani and Chipinge
in Manicaland and some in Masvingo and Mashonaland East in March, leaving
hundreds dead and hundreds others missing.
The cyclone destroyed infrastructure like roads, bridges,
homes, schools and other institutions in the affected areas, resulting in the
survivors being left stranded. Herald
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