Online Reporter
Gabriel Masvora in KOBE, Japan
ZIMBABWE and South Africa have made a commitment to increase cooperation in disaster management as the two neighbouring countries share common challenges, especially those related to climate-induced disasters.
Speaking at a bilateral meeting with South Africa’s Deputy Minister in the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Dr Namane Masemola on the sidelines of the ongoing High-Level Policy Dialogue on Resilient Recovery in Kobe, Japan, on Thursday, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said while the two countries have faced a number of disasters, they have continued work together to alleviate the impact on people.
“Our Civil Protection Department and your National Disaster Management have a longstanding relationship and collaborated very well in managing disasters for our two great nations,” said Minister Garwe.
He said in early warning initiatives, the two countries’ weather departments — Zimbabwe’s
Meteorological Services Department and South Africa’s Weather Services — share climate-related data through the Impact Based Forecasting, which has helped communities to understand weather-related disasters and take preventative action.
“This programme has been localised with a view to extend disaster risk information to all our communities in Zimbabwe, as well as closing the gap in early warning systems.”
South Africa, he said, has helped Zimbabwe deal with a number of disasters, including the Cyclone Idai, which affected more than 500 000 people in 2019.
Pretoria donated food and shelter, and also dispatched its search-and-rescue team during the disaster.
“During Covid-19 and the just-ended El Nino-induced drought, South Africa remained a strong pillar in supporting the Government of Zimbabwe in responding to the aforesaid disasters.”
Zimbabwe also recently hosted the training of SADC Emergency Response team, to which both countries seconded staff.
Minister Garwe also congratulated South Africa for assuming the G20 presidency, adding that Zimbabwe, which has been invited to the G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group in Cape Town next month, was looking forward to tap more knowledge on disaster management from the forum.
Deputy Minister Masemela said South Africa has always viewed Zimbabwe as a brother and would continue to work closely in many other spheres to further strengthen cooperation.
“We invited Zimbabwe to the G20 Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group because we have always felt that we cannot do things without our neighbours and the African continent as a whole as we are one people. We also want to invite you to the Municipal Indaba, which we will host next month,” he said.
The High-Level Policy Dialogue on Resilient Recovery meeting is being coordinated by the International Recovery Platform (IRP), which is a global partnership working to strengthen knowledge and share experiences and lessons on building back better in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
In 2015, following the adoption of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, IRP embraced a more specialised role as an international mechanism for sharing experiences and lessons associated with building back better.
Minister Garwe is expected to address the meeting on Friday
