Online Reporter
Gibson Nyikadzino-Zimpapers Politics Hub
SOUTHERN African Development Community climate experts will next week meet in Mbabane, Kingdom of Eswatini, to strengthen collaboration among member states on monitoring and forecasting, as well as training delegates on climate prediction and analysis.
The 32nd Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum comes as the region is reeling under devastating torrential rains that have caused significant damage to property, infrastructure and cost lives.
In a statement yesterday, the bloc’s secretariat said the SADC Climate Services Centre (SADC-CSC) is working on services for contributions to meteorological, environmental, and hydro-meteorological products to improve disaster preparedness and the effective management of climate-induced risks.
“These high-level regional engagements aim to strengthen collaboration among SADC member states in climate monitoring, forecasting, and early warning, while enhancing preparedness, response, and resilience to weather and climate-related hazards across Southern Africa.
“These services play a vital role in supporting decision-making across climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture, water resources, health, energy, and disaster risk reduction,” the statement reads.
Mozambique has been the worst affected country as widespread floods have resulted in an increasing humanitarian impact affecting the Gaza, Maputo, Inhambane and Sofala provinces. At least 43 deaths have been recorded, approximately 68 600 currently evacuated and nearly 610 000 people affected across the country.
