Disaster Preparedness And Management Mechanisms In Zimbabwe: A Critical Analysis Of The Tokwe Province

ABSTRACT

This study examined Zimbabwe’s disaster preparedness and management mechanisms. It

used the Tokwe Mukosi floods as a case study. The study employed both qualitative and

quantitative approaches. The study had discussions with key stakeholders at provincial,

district and community level as well as randomly sampled households. Quantitative

Household Questionnaires and Qualitative Key Informant Interviews were used to collect the

data. The study established that Zimbabwe’s disaster management strategies are very poor

for the government on its own cannot curb these disasters. These recommendations have been

proposed:

 The government should have a policy framework to cope up with disasters.

 Disaster risk management should be integrated in development planning and

management at whatever level of governance in Zimbabwe and even at schools.

 The civil protection unit should conduct trainings at national, provincial,

district and community level on disaster risk reduction. Communities themselves

should not only blame the government but also try their best to protect themselves

from disasters.

 The government should have an operational budget to facilitate quick

responses when disasters occur. Currently the government has no standing budget for

disaster risks. This has caused the government to fail to curb disasters in time as it

will need to first seek support from the international community and nongovernmental

organisations when disasters happen.

 The government has failed to fully compensate the flood victims. Therefore

the researcher recommends the government to formulate a broader framework for

restoring livelihoods and compensating the victims who will have lost many valuables

from the disaster.

 According to experts there is now 90% probability for high rainfall because of

climate change. Therefore the government should facilitate evacuations before climate

induced disasters occur. People should be removed from river basins to areas which

are not flood prone.

 The responsible authorities especially the metrological services department

should conduct awareness campaigns on impending seasonal hazards.

 The impact of disasters is now known to be devastating basing on the Tokwe

Mukosi disaster. Therefore there should be the establishment of civil protection

committees at community level to national level with clear terms of reference to

improve the response rate, when disasters strike.

 Reliance on early warning systems is also another recommendation. It is

alleged that the Tokwe Mukosi disaster has been detected by meteorologist but o

action was taken. This may be because weather forecasts especially in Zimbabwe are

not reliable. People should rely on weather forecasts.

 The government should invest in technical capacity for quick and accurate

assessments of disaster situations and a rapid mechanism to active support from the

international community because it is standard practise that international aid agencies

will not offer support unless government calls .

 Furthermore the government should not abuse NGOs operating in their

country. This can lead to withdrawal of aid as witnessed by UNICEF and OXFAM.

 The government should be found on the forefront when disasters occur and

what people witnessed at Tokwe- Mukosi where NGOs were found highly active than

the government itself. NGOs should play a second fiddle.