Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is moving to strengthen its emergency telecommunications systems as climate-induced disasters continue to threaten lives, infrastructure and livelihoods across Southern Africa.
ICT, Postal and Courier Services Deputy Minister Dingumuzi Phuti said robust and coordinated telecommunications systems were critical in ensuring effective disaster response.
He was speaking at the official opening of the International Telecommunication union (ITU)-SADC Emergency Telecommunications and Early Warning for All (EW4All) Regional Capacity Development Workshop in Harare on Wednesday.
The workshop is a collaborative initiative between the SADC Secretariat, ITU and the Government of Zimbabwe.
“This collaborative effort marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to enhancing emergency telecommunications capabilities throughout the SADC region,” said Deputy Minister Phuti.
He said the region remains highly vulnerable to climate-induced disasters such as tropical cyclones, floods and droughts, which often result in loss of life, destruction of property, crop damage and disruption of critical information infrastructure.
“In times of crisis, local telecommunications and ICT systems can be severely disrupted, leaving communities without vital communication channels when they need them most,” Deputy Minister Phuti said.
“Timely, reliable and coordinated telecommunications are the backbone of effective disaster response.
“They enable governments, humanitarian agencies and first responders to act swiftly and decisively to save lives.”
Deputy Minister Phuti said telecommunications play a central role across all four stages of disaster management — mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery — but acknowledged that several SADC member states still face gaps in preparedness.
“Issues such as lack of harmonised standard operating procedures, limited interoperability among systems, delays in supporting emergency telecommunications equipment and weak coordination mechanisms during emergencies continue to hinder our collective efforts,” he said.
The Deputy Minister said the 2026 regional workshop, the second of its kind, provides an opportunity to assess preparedness in operationalising the SADC Model National Emergency Telecommunications Plan.
Since 2012, the ITU has been supporting Sadc in developing the model, which was approved by SADC Ministers responsible for ICT in February 2025 as a guiding framework for strengthening emergency communications across member states.
During the workshop, delegates are expected to deliberate on harmonising early warning systems using the Common Alerting Protocol and share best practices aimed at strengthening technical capacity in the region.
Deputy Minister Phuti expressed gratitude to the ITU for supporting Zimbabwe and four other member states in domesticating the model national emergency telecommunications plan.
Zimbabwe will also engage the Civil Protection Department and other stakeholders to establish a national emergency telecommunications virtual working group to oversee the implementation of the plan.
The country is currently serving as custodian of SADC emergency telecommunications equipment provided by the ITU through the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe to ensure rapid deployment during disasters.
Deputy Minister Phuti urged SADC member states to accede to the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, which came into force on January 8, 2025, following ratification by 49 countries.
“As we embark on this journey together, I am optimistic that our collective efforts will lead to improved coordination and ultimately reduced loss of life throughout the southern region,” he said.
“Together, let us forge a path toward a more resilient future where every community is equipped to respond effectively to disasters.”
