The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) has embarked on a Post Cyclone Idai Emergency Recovery and Resilience Project (PCIREP) in partnership with the Africa Development Bank and the world bank where they donated IT equipment worth US$140, 000.00 to the government of Zimbabwe.
The project will benefit the Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company (ZETDC), the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) and the Ministry of local government and public works.
The Africa Development Bank (AfDB) also donated IT equipment worth US$56,700 for the same project.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Harare this morning, UNOPS Senior Program Manager Mr Claude Nadon said UNOPS’ objective is not to just build back, but to build back better climate -smart infrastructure to protect the vulnerable communities of Manicaland from future weather shocks.
“With the impact of climate change becoming more evident with increased incidences of floods, we need to develop infrastructure that takes the environmental conditions into consideration.
“We have since adapted a design and build approach to accelerate the rehabilitation of infrastructure and bring relief to the communities of Chimanimani and Chipinge, while maintaining the mandatory design review process to ensure that the structures we build will withstand the pressures posed by weather aspects.” He said.
UNOPS has been operating in Zimbabwe since 2019 in response to the Cyclone Idai.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, July Moyo expressed his gratitude towards the donation to the country and assured the nation that the donations will be used for their proper use.
“On behalf of the government of Zimbabwe, once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to both AfDB and World Bank for their seamless support to the country. Government will continue to proffer an enabling environment to make sure that all the outstanding components of the projects are effectively and timely fulfilled.
“Government will ensure that the tools and equipment we are receiving today will be accounted for and that the equipment will be deployed for it’s intended purpose.” He said.
Minister July Moyo said , “The tripartite agreement between the Government of Zimbabwe, AfDB and UNOPS under PCIREP is an epitome of how the government, international funding organisations and development partners can work together to benefit the people of Zimbabwe.”
Also present during the handover ceremony was Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Marian Chombo, the Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Z. R Churu among other dignitaries.