Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT will include maritime and aviation issues in its national multi-hazard contingency plan to unlock assistance and cover during carnages, as happened in the Kariba ferry disaster.
It also emerged that the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) disbursed US$20 000 to complement Government initiatives in mitigating costs for the deceased and survivors in the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency ferry, which has since been declared a State of Disaster.
This was said by Civil Protection Unit Chief Director in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Nathan Nkomo, during a Star FM current Affairs radio programme, Muriro on Monday, which unpacked the Rida owned ferry boat disaster that claimed several lives.
Mr Nkomo said the Kariba maritime disaster provided a learning curve on disaster management and identified gaps that ought to be plugged.
“When you look at our national multi-hazard contingency plan, the maritime-related disasters are not included in the national multi-hazard contingency plan.
“These are the areas where compliance must be of high note and these are the areas we omitted to include: maritime-related disasters. But it’s a lesson. Every disaster is a learning curve,” said Mr Nkomo.
“So we have learned that we should not leave any area behind, be it aviation, be it maritime issues. They must also be included in the national multi-hazard contingency plan because the national multi-hazard contingency plan is a rallying tool for all ministries, departments and agencies to deal with disasters in their respective areas.”
He said several organisations had partnered with the Government in providing assistance to families to mitigate the effects of the disaster.
