The Housing and Social Amenities Minister Daniel Garwe has assured Cyclone Idai survivors who lost their homes in the devastating Cyclone Idai and are still living in tents that by year-end they will have new homes. Manica Post reports.
Garwe made the promise at a national housing delivery programme meeting in Mutare yesterday when he said:
Allowing people to live in tents for such a long period of time is eating into the value of their culture, which will have a negative impact on the values of our children. What culture is cultivated in these tents? The neighbour hears everything that happens in this tent.
We must ensure that we provide houses to the people of Chimanimani by Christmas this year. When I was appointed minister, my first focus should have been Chimanimani to ensure that we provide houses for the Cyclone Idai victims.
However, I am glad that I was part of the delegation when the Chinese Ambassador handed over a donation of US$2 million to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works to expeditiously start working on the housing programme in Chimanimani.
We will be calling for a meeting as soon as possible. All stakeholders need to ensure that we build the houses and get our people out of the tents before the end of this year. Let it be our number one priority. We would have failed His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, if we continue pretending as if people are not living in tents,
Meanwhile, China pledged a further US$2 million through UNDP to help Cyclone Idai victims rebuild their lives and have permanent homes.
More: Manica Post