Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
Local councils in Zimbabwe must budget for disaster preparedness and management, shifting from just reacting to taking proactive measures to control and contain disaster.
A recent three-day Epworth Civil Protection Disaster Risk Management peer review workshop held in Kadoma was implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Vision, with funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).
It brought together Government and council officials from Midlands, Harare Metropolitan, Bulawayo Metropolitan and Manicaland provinces. The aim was to strengthen urban preparedness systems as part of a community resilience initiative running from 2021 to 2024.
Epworth represented the Harare Metropolitan area, while Bulawayo, Mutare and Gweru city councils were included from their provinces.
Acting director in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr John Misi, acknowledged the efforts and funding from development partners, but stressed the need for councils to budget specifically for disaster management.
“The Government has noted that instead of merely responding to disasters, there is a pressing need to plan and budget in advance. We must ensure we are prepared when disasters strike our communities,” he said.
Mr Misi highlighted that following the Cyclone Idai disaster, which caused destruction and loss of life in Manicaland, the Government adopted a planning approach to disaster management.
With urban areas increasingly facing unprecedented challenges, the Government has introduced the Urban Resilience Programme to address these issues.
“We have recognised that the focus in the past has often been on rural areas. The Urban Resilience Programme was introduced to tackle the challenges faced by towns, and we are grateful for the support from our partners,” he added.
Epworth Local Board’s director of works, Engineer Benard Wiridzai, and his council Chairperson Cllr Nyarai Rutsito both emphasised the importance of having a dedicated budget for disaster management.
“We developed disaster preparedness plans in 2021, which have been beneficial in addressing some of the disasters we faced. Coming from an informal settlement, we encounter numerous hazards, and addressing these is crucial,” Wiridzai explained.
Cllr Rutsito noted: “With a large population, we face various challenges, including flooding, structural collapses, and cholera outbreaks. The call for a stand-alone budget for disasters is vital for our preparedness.”
WFP’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Programme policy officer Mr Farai Shonhai highlighted the organisation’s progress in enhancing urban disaster preparedness in Zimbabwe through the Regional Urban Preparedness Project.
“The project aims to ensure urban centres are better equipped to respond to risks and emergencies, employing consolidated tools agreed upon by regional, national, and local actors to reduce the number of affected individuals,” he said.
The second phase of the project is also being implemented by WFP and World Vision, with funding from the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.
