Government, UN partnership helping Manicaland recover from Cyclone Idai impacts

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Hon Nokuthula Matsikenyeri, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland Province has hailed the partnership between the Government and the United Nations for helping Chimanimani and Chipinge districts to recover from the impact of Cyclone Idai.

She made the remarks today at the UN Media Workshop on Development Reporting at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Mutare running from the 30th of May to the 3rd of June 2022.

“It is important to note that Manicaland Province and with special reference to the two districts you will be visiting during the course of this workshop, Chimanimani, and Chipinge, continue to recover from the impact of Cyclone Idai.

“As a province, we are grateful for the timely intervention of our Government and the role played by UN agencies as our key development partners during and in the aftermath of Cyclone Idai,” Hon Matsikenyeri said.

She said there is a success story at Runyararo Settlement, a new site that was established at the former Westend Farm to resettle people who were displaced by Cyclone Idai.

This is one case in point of the Government and UN synergy, and profitable cooperation which started with the provision of temporary tents at Kopa and Ngangu to the displaced and final permanent modern homesteads at Runyararo for the victims.

Mr. Edward Kallon, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Zimbabwe speaking on the same occasion, said the UN in Zimbabwe implemented arguably the largest resilience programme in Zimbabwe, covering 18 districts and executed through seven (7) consortia. The programme strengthened the capacities of vulnerable communities to proactively make decisions in responding to severe economic, environmental, climatic, and social shocks and stresses.

“Through the Socio-Economic Framework, the UN development system adopted a crisis modifier to address challenges caused by COVID-19. This entailed reprogramming and repurposing to deliver integrated support towards response and recovery. In addition, the UN collaborated with the Government of Zimbabwe, to strengthen key value chains, including value addition and enterprise development in small-scale gold mining and agriculture, targeting women and youth, as well as green skills development,” Mr. Kallon said