adminDiana Nherera Herald Reporter
Government should come up with a holistic policy on climate change to safeguard the country against its effects that pose a huge threat to the livelihood of people, parliamentarians have said. They said this while contributing to a motion by Cde Anastancia Ndhlovu (Zanu-PF proportional representative) calling on Government to enact a National Climate Change Policy and a Comprehensive Disaster Risk Management Strategy.
“Climate change results in a decrease in the amount of rainfall that we receive as a country. It also results in shifts in the rainy seasons and that is termed climate variability.
“Because the development agenda for this country for the next five years has food security as one of its priority areas, it is important that as Government, we come up with measures to deal with climate change in terms of food security,” said Cde Ndhlovu.
She said it was important that idle irrigation schemes be revamped, while communities were encouraged to practice modern agricultural practices.
Cde Ndhlovu said climate change had resulted in an increase in adverse weather conditions such as droughts and flooding, citing the Tokwe-Mukosi disaster and recent floods in areas like Muzarabani as examples of the effects of climate change.
She urged parliamentarians to consider setting up a local chapter of the Global Legislators Organisation, whose mandate is to develop and oversee the implementation of laws in pursuit of sustainable development.
Global Legislators Organisation comprises national Parliaments from more than 80 countries.
Contributing to the debate Cde Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu (Zanu PF proportional representative), also stressed the importance of having a national policy on climate change.
“Our executive should align laws and try to work on the issues or come up with a policy on issues to do with climate change such as the National Climate Change Policy,” she said.
Online Reporter