Online Reporter
Luthando Mapepa-Mutare Bureau
THE City of Mutare has stepped up urban emergency disaster preparedness through partnership with various stakeholders to bolster its capacity to react effectively to potential catastrophes.
The city council recently participated in the Urban Preparedness Project Phase II, implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) and World Vision with funding from the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG-ECHO).
The project focuses on ensuring that urban centres are better prepared and able to respond to urban risks and emergencies through the adoption of a set of consolidated tools agreed upon by key regional, national, and local actors, resulting in a reduced number of affected people.
Speaking at the disaster preparedness programme in Mutare yesterday, Assistant District Development Coordinator for Mutare, Mrs Joyline Nyamunokora welcomed the programme and said disaster preparedness is critical in drought-prone areas.
She said the programme’s timing is particularly apt, given the impending rainy season, as Mutare and Manicaland are susceptible to rain-induced disasters.
The province’s vulnerability to such events is still fresh in the minds of many, with the devastating impact of Cyclone Idai still lingering. The cyclone’s destructive path across the Eastern Highlands left a lasting impression, and the need for effective disaster preparedness and response is clear.
“We are here to support one another and strengthen our preparedness. We have various committees and we are always ready to respond when emergencies arise. Let us learn as much as we can during this meeting and take this knowledge back to our communities so we can educate others until everyone is informed. By the end of this process, we will have a draft plan and a clear understanding of the hazards we face. We recently experienced strong winds in some wards, reminding us why preparedness is critical. So let’s absorb as much as we can to ensure our communities are safer and stronger in the near future,” she said.
Mutare Town Clerk, Mr Blessing Chafesuka said the programme comes at a right time when the council is rolling out many programmes in preparation for natural disasters.
“The urban preparedness programme has come at the right time for us as a city. We are strengthening our disaster readiness and have also partnered with Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences (MSUAS) to support preparedness efforts. We have capacitated our Fire Department to respond to all types of emergencies, and our firefighters will soon travel to Belarus for advanced training ,” he said.
