RYAN CHIGOCHE
The African Development Bank (AfDB) donated trucks to the government and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) meant to enhance disaster preparedness and response in Manicaland Province.
The donation of crane trucks and Nissan NP300 Pick Up trucks were done under the Post Cyclone Idai Emergency Recovery and Resilience Project.
The development comes barely two months after the government received another donation of vehicles, ICT equipment, tents, and tools from the Abidjan-headquartered bank.
Local Government minister July Moyo, who received the donation on behalf of the government commended AfDB for the gesture.
The 8 Crane trucks and 2 NP200 pickup trucks are expected to go a long way will go a long way to in capacitating ZETDC to improve electricity supply in Manicaland Province as well as facilitate timeous response to incidents.
“The Government of Zimbabwe remains indebted to you our development partners for your efforts towards recovery and resilience building. It is only through concerted efforts that we will be able to realise an empowered upper middle-income economy by 2030,” Moyo said.
“As I accept this donation, I would like to express sincere gratitude to our partners AfDB, and UNOPS for this gesture and urge other Agencies and development partners to emulate the dedication and commitment to contribute to the attainment of our national development goals.”
The AfDB country manager Moono Mupotola said she is confident that ZETDC will be able to navigate the difficult terrains with the donated trucks.
“This selection of these vehicles was deliberate to ensure it will be capable of ferrying the necessary loads and navigating the rugged terrain that is characteristic of Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.
“It is our hope that the provision of these vehicles will complement the efforts of the Government of Zimbabwe through ZETDC to bring convenience to the people of Zimbabwe through the provision of adequate, safe, reliable electricity and related services.’’ Mupotola said.
ZESA Holdings executive chairman Sydney Gata commended AfDB and its partners together with the government for making sure that ZESA is capacitated to carry out their duties.
“Even though the circumstances under which this donation is being made were tragic, we would like to celebrate the spirit through which the AfDB And other institutions and the government, the arrangement they have made to restore the resemblance of normal operations of a supply company in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts,” Gata said, adding the power utility was now “more than normally equipped to deal expeditiously with customer requirements in relation to our service”.
Through UNOPS, the AFDB yesterday handed donated 4×4 offroad 3-tonne Knuckle Boom Crane Trucks, four 6×4 offroad 8-tonne Knuckle Boom Crane Trucks and 2 Nissan single cab pick-up trucks with a total value of US$810,170.00.
This year alone, the AfDB has delivered a total of 15 vehicles, various tools, and equipment in 4 handover events all worth US$1.4m towards assisting the communities of Chimanimani and Chipinge.
The government with support from partners like AfDB has made significant strides in restoring normalcy in the lives of the people of Chimanimani and Chipinge Districts who suffered the brunt of tropical Cyclone Idai in March 2019.
According to Moyo, the Cyclone Idai Runyararo Housing Project at West End Farm in Chimanimani has seen the construction of 120 housing units and all completed houses have been allocated to beneficiaries.
The housing project provides permanent houses for 224 households and each family was allocated 6000 square meter stands for livelihood activities.
