Martin Muleya
CHIMANIMANI-The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development spearheaded an initiative to honor the victims of Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani, the district worst hit by the devastating 2019 storm.
Cyclone Idai left a trail of destruction in its wake, claiming hundreds of lives and displacing thousands in Chimanimani.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of 279 death certificates for Cyclone Idai victims at Ndima High School, Deputy Minister of Transport Joshua Sacco passionately advocated for the construction of permanent memorials at Kopa and Ngangu Business Centres believed to be the final resting places for some of the victims.
“Our request to the Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works is that it be made possible to fence off the sites at Kopa and Ngangu and turn them into memorial monuments to maintain them as dignified sites in honor of our lost loved ones,” he said.
These memorials will serve as designated spaces for families and the community to grieve and reflect on the lives lost.
They will also be a constant reminder of the destructive power of natural disasters and the importance of preparedness for future occurrences.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Misheck Mugadza, urged communities in Manicaland to continue offering support and consolation to the families of Cyclone Idai victims.
He assured the affected communities that the province will continue to support the families of the victims through the devolution matrix.
“This handover ceremony is meant to enable the bereaved families and the community as a whole to start the healing process and find closure. Let us resurrect our lives with fortitude and optimism. The Province of Manicaland will continue to use its devolution matrix and external support to assist these families,” said Minister Mugadza.
Officiating at the hand-over ceremony, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, represented by his deputy, Benjamin Kabikira, said the decision for closure came after a five-year long inquiry with no realistic chances of ever finding the missing victims.
“After a lengthy investigation that lasted five years, officials have concluded that there is no longer a realistic hope of finding our missing community members alive.
“Please know that you were on our minds and in our prayers during the agonizing experience. I urge you to take comfort from the beautiful times you shared with your loved ones,” he said.
Minister Garwe said there was a need to construct more evacuation centers and warehouses in the country as part of disaster preparedness.
“To ensure the safety of communities during emergencies, identification and construction of evacuation centers was done. In terms of storage and pre-positioning of relief materials, a warehouse was constructed in Bumba, Chimanimani.
“However, there is a need for the construction of more evacuation centers and warehouses throughout the country,” he said.
A total of 279 lives were lost in the Chimanimani area during the 2019 Cyclone Idai disaster, comprising 133 males and 146 females
The Government’s decision to issue death certificates for victims of Cyclone Idai, who went missing in Manicaland in 2019, is a significant step towards bringing closure to the families of the deceased said one villager who attended the ceremony.
This decision follows a thorough legal process to declare the missing individuals dead.
