“Unreachable” is the term that had become synonymous with Ruwedza in south-eastern Zimbabwe, where access by road had been hampered since 2019, when Cyclone Idai caused widespread destruction in the area. In its aftermath, local communities could not receive assistance or services speedily. Up to today, the nearest places for them to find a market and health center are 36km (22 miles) away, while other social and government services are in Chimanimani district’s business center, 49km (30 miles) away. Students were affected as they needed to use roads to reach their secondary (high) school.
Aware of the urgency of this, the $72 million Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project (ZIRP) is undertaking the reconstruction of the eight-kilometer road in Ruwedza to connect three remote, rural villages—Munyebvu, Matsekete, and Muyererwa. Prior to the cyclone, the road they used was already prone to landslides and flooding, as well as rock fall during the rainy season.
Nestled behind a mountain, the 158-household community came together to support the project. Using a community-based approach, all households in the area are represented in a labor force comprising 58 men and 100 women. So important is inclusion that the community allocated “proxies” for child-headed households to ensure that no one is left behind.
The road construction project will help connect 5,000 people to schools, health centers, and markets. And, as the communities engage in farming, a motorable road will help it boost their agricultural productivity.
Engendering the rehabilitation works