Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
THE Sixth Ordinary Meeting of the SADC Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management has opened in Masvingo, with regional leaders calling for stronger cross-border cooperation to improve disaster preparedness and response amid increasing climate change-induced disasters in Southern Africa.
Delegates from all 16 member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are attending the meeting being held at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel under the theme, “Building Back Better Together: Advancing Resilient Recovery and Sustainable Development in SADC.”
Zimbabwe was selected to host the regional gathering after agreeing to share the hosting of some of the bloc’s meetings following South Africa’s assumption of the SADC chairmanship, following Madagascar relinquishment of the chairmanships.
The meeting is being chaired by South Africa’s Head of the National Disaster Management Centre, Dr Elias Sithole, who said discussions would focus on strengthening regional cooperation in disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery.
The deliberations come at a time when Southern African countries continue to face climate change-related disasters including floods, droughts, cyclones, veld fires and disease outbreaks.
Dr Sithole urged SADC member states to deepen collaboration through the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC), which was established to coordinate regional responses to disasters.
According to Dr Sithole, climate-induced disasters often affect several countries simultaneously, making it critical for SHOC to receive adequate financial and material support to enable coordinated regional responses.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Department of Civil Protection Chief Director in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Dr Nathan Nkomo, described SHOC as a critical mechanism for improving disaster response across the region.
He said the centre, which is domiciled in Mozambique, had strengthened preparedness levels among member states and improved regional capacity to respond to recurring natural disasters driven by climate change.
Dr Nkomo reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to supporting SHOC and stressed the importance of a multi-sectoral approach in managing natural disasters effectively.
In November 2024, while chairing SADC, Zimbabwe hosted the SADC Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management in Victoria Falls, where regional leaders discussed strengthening disaster preparedness systems, humanitarian response mechanisms and the operationalisation of SHOC.
