Make climate change a priority, Govt urged

Innocent Ruwende at Great Zimbabwe, Masvingo
Government has been implored to make climate change a priority following the delay by Cabinet to approve the draft Climate Policy, which was submitted by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate for endorsement in April this year.

Chairperson of the portfolio committee on Environment, Water, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Cde Wonder Mashange said there was need to step up efforts towards enhanced climate change adaptation and building resilience.

“Zimbabwe’s resilience will be underpinned by the country’s capacity to recover from climatic shocks, ability to withstand and subsequently avoid these shocks.

“My portfolio committee is fully behind climate change programming in the country, and will push for the finalisation of the National Climate Policy, whose draft has already been submitted for Cabinet approval.

“It is my desire to see the launch of the policy (document) before year end.

“The policy will support climate change actions through enhanced climate change research, implementation of climate change adaptation and mitigation actions, resource mobilisation as well as the strengthening of the climate change institutional arrangements and governance framework in Zimbabwe,” he said.

Cde Mashange, who was speaking at the Third National Communication Report Back Workshop for Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment, Research and Systematic Observation and Technology Transfer Chapters in Masvingo recently, said the country needs to come up with policy measures that correlate with the climate change policy to reduce carbon emissions.

He also urged Government to make meteorological data accessible to farmers: “Information should be readily accessible because the final users of that information are the farmers.

“We need it to be available free of charge. We are informed that the data collected in 10 days is sold for $15.

“How many farmers are prepared to part with $15? So, information should be readily available.

“As a committee, we are going to push and engage the ministry so that adjustments are made, so that information is available at grassroots level.

“There is also need to increase weather stations across the country.

“Along the border areas, there are no weather stations,” he said.

University of Zimbabwe Physics Department lecturer and meteorologist, Mrs Juliet Gwenzi said there was need for the country to strengthen weather and climate information dissemination.

“The Meteorological Services Department is guided by the Meteorological Act which gazettes prices for such information.

“The issue requires consultation at a higher level.

“The Meteorological Department will say they are following the Meteorological Act.

“You will realise that although they are part of the people who provide such data, the police and Agritex department are also made to pay for the information,” she said.