Steve Ephraem
World Bank is impressed with how Chimanimani communities have managed to stand again after facing a disaster.
Newly appointed World Bank Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Nathan Belete, revealed this during an interview which he did with station manager, Themba Gata, live on air on Chimanimani FM on November 29, 2022.
World Bank visited Chimanimani to have an appreciation of how communities have recovered after Tropical Cyclone Idai.
“I have learnt something by coming here that besides the incredible challenges that communities in Chimanimani faced, they have been able to become resilient. This is quite impressive. We as the international community we shall do our best to work closely with the communities and the government on issues such as climate change and Covid 19.
“We are happy to work with the government of Zimbabwe in support of community needs. The main reason for coming to Chimanimani is Tropical Cyclone Idai so that we will able to identify resources necessary for recovery and resilience.
“We are to engage different stakeholders across the country so that we can understand better what the needs of the country are in terms of new round of support with the World Bank. We will finalise with the Government in Harare to discuss on how best we can continue with our engagements,” he said.
Chimanimani and Chipinge districts were hit by Tropical Cyclone Idai in March 2019. The cyclone killed more than 250 people and left thousands others injured and homeless. The disaster destroyed people’s livelihoods.