adminVusumuzi Dube, Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE is set to benefit from a US$100 million package that has been availed by the African Development Bank to help in infrastructure reconstruction in areas that were affected by Cyclone Idai.
Apart from Zimbabwe, AfDB said in a statement, the money will also benefit affected areas in Mozambique and Malawi.
In Zimbabwe, the cyclone which hit Manicaland and parts of Masvingo left more than 260 people dead, while 500 are still missing. It also destroyed businesses, homes, schools and roads making some areas inaccessible.
A high level delegation from the bank met Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi where the package was announced.
The high-level AfDB delegation was headed by its vice president for Corporate Services and Human Resources Mr Mateus Magala and also included: the director general, Southern Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office, Kapil Kapoor; Eugenio Paulo Maria, advisor to the Executive Director for Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola; and Pietro Toigo, the bank’s country manager for Mozambique.
The bank said the first phase of the funding initiative will consists of a special relief fund of $1.7 million for Mozambique, specifically for the immediate humanitarian relief effort in the worst affected areas.
In the second phase, the bank will set up a response and reconstruction programme, committing up to $100 million for Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe to kick-start economic recovery and rehabilitation.
“A team is working to support the governments of the three countries, using the Bank’s convening power to assess needs, identify key reconstruction activities, and mobilise resources from the international community, global philanthropic organisations and the general public.
The bank is working to put together a long-term solution to climate risk in Southern Africa, a region subject to a continuous cycle of floods, droughts and cyclones, and one of the most vulnerable on the continent,” reads part of the statement.
Mr Magala said: “We would like to rebuild and modernise this corridor to be more resilient and to energise the region’s economic activities without climate pressure or any other constraints.”
“Mozambique has been the centre of the cyclone demonstration, but Zimbabwe and Malawi are also affected, so we will mobilise more resources for the reconstruction and modernisation of infrastructures in the region.”
The move by the bank comes after Cabinet last week resolved to launch a formal appeal for domestic and international assistance on the Cyclone Idai disaster.
The appeal is for assistance in ongoing rescue and search efforts as well as restoration of basic infrastructure and social services in Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland East provinces.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter