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Takunda Maodza Manicaland Bureau Chief
TRANSPORT and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel Biggie Matiza last week officially opened the Cashel Valley-Chikukwa Road in Chimanimani that was rehabilitated by Econet at a cost of US$2 million.
The road was heavily damaged by Cyclone Idai and was no longer trafficable.
Econet hired J.R. Goddard to rehabilitate the road.
Chimanimani is a major source of fruits such as bananas, oranges, avocados and pineapples.
It is also a rich source of timber.
The repair of the road will enable farmers to transport their produce to markets in Mutare, Masvingo and Harare.
Officially opening the road on Friday last week, Minister Matiza thanked Econet for helping recovery efforts in Chimanimani and Chipinge, the two districts hardest hit by Cyclone Idai.
“I would like to gratefully thank the Econet Group for coming to our aid in the time of need,” he said. “The Wengezi to Skyline route was affected at the Umvumvumvu Bridge Number 4 which had the Wengezi approach washed away.
“This meant the people of Chimanimani, especially Mutambara, Cashel and Nedziwa were cut off from other areas.”
Minister Matiza said the contribution by Econet saw communities disconnected by the cyclone returning to life.
“Your team was able to create a detour through the old narrow bridge and allowed traffic to connect to the major highway of Mutare-Masvingo Road,” he said. “You constructed a detour at Lydia Growth Point.
“You also repaired the approaches of the Biriri bridges 1 and 2 which were also washed away. This allowed people to move easily to centres where they were able to receive aid.
“You also managed to clear up landslides along the route up to Skyline which also made it easy for traffic to cut the route to Mutare short as they were going around through Birchenough–Chipinge Road.
“The Lisnacloon-Cashel-Chimanimani is another road which was badly damaged with structures/approaches washed away and landslides closing the roads. You managed to clear up the 67km road section and it is now trafficable.”
Minister Matiza thanked J.R. Goddard for working round the clock to ensure the road was repaired.
Econet general manager for Manicaland Province Mr Passion Muranganywa said they were on the ground assisting Government recovery efforts in Chimanimani.
“The road we have rehabilitated covers nearly 200km from Wengezi, including feeder roads into schools and clinics,” he said. “The money we used on the road rehabilitation project amounted to US$2 million.”
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Ellen Gwaradzimba urged construction of permanent structures like bridges before the onset of the rains.
Online Reporter