Cyclone Idai smashed Zimbabwe's eastern areas during March 2019 and cut power lines across two districts. More than 300,000 people lost electricity for over two months after the storm destroyed a 155-kilometer power line. Hospitals could not run life-saving machines and schools closed their computer labs. Businesses stopped working and factories shut down operations. Workers at Charter Sawmills had to use expensive diesel generators to keep running.
The African Development Bank gave Zimbabwe 24.7 million dollars to fix the damage through a recovery project. Teams rebuilt the broken power lines using stronger steel poles instead of wooden ones. Engineers added 12 kilometers of new power lines to separate the electricity supply between Chimanimani and Chipinge districts. The project also gave new vehicles and tools to the national electricity company. Recovery workers designed the new system to survive future storms better.
Power returned to all 300,000 people who lost electricity during the cyclone. Health clinics can keep vaccines cold and run emergency equipment without problems. Students use computers for learning and study at night with electric lights. Farmers pump water for crops and earn more money from better harvests. Small business owners like Jacob Mukunukuji train apprentices and make metal equipment for local farmers.
The African Development Bank gave Zimbabwe 24.7 million dollars to fix the damage through a recovery project. Teams rebuilt the broken power lines using stronger steel poles instead of wooden ones. Engineers added 12 kilometers of new power lines to separate the electricity supply between Chimanimani and Chipinge districts. The project also gave new vehicles and tools to the national electricity company. Recovery workers designed the new system to survive future storms better.
Power returned to all 300,000 people who lost electricity during the cyclone. Health clinics can keep vaccines cold and run emergency equipment without problems. Students use computers for learning and study at night with electric lights. Farmers pump water for crops and earn more money from better harvests. Small business owners like Jacob Mukunukuji train apprentices and make metal equipment for local farmers.
