South African army camped in Chimanimani

Members of the South African Defense Forces are still camped in Manicaland and are yet to commence the rehabilitation of roads and infrastructure it has emerged.

Activist Freeman Chari who  has been actively involved in the rehabilitation of infrastructure in that area said, "South African Defence Forces has been camped in Chimanimani for weeks to start rehabilitating roads. My understanding is that our government has not released materials needed for them to begin their job."

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF)  deployed over 100 engineers to Zimbabwe to assist with fixing damage from Cyclone Idai, which struck the region earlier this year.

South African Defence Forces has been camped in Chimanimani for weeks to start rehabilitating roads. My understanding is that our government has not released materials needed for them to begin their job. Our government claims $100m was released by treasury irikuitei? pic.twitter.com/VfF4MNIk28

— Freeman (@freemanchari) August 5, 2019

Zimbabwean media report that 118 engineers arrived in Zimbabwe on 22 July, where they began engaging in reconstruction in the Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.

Deployment leader Lieutenant Colonel Delnot Njoko told journalist last month  that the SANDF personnel would be in Zimbabwe for a period of 23 weeks. "We are not here for war, we are here to assist our counterparts in the reconstruction of two bridges here in Chimanimani," said.