adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
THE organising committee for next month’s Sadc Summit in Victoria Falls has recommended the strengthening of disaster management preparedness to ensure the safety of delegates.The recommendation comes in the wake of a tram accident involving 32 tourists a fortnight ago amid concerns over poor reaction by the disaster management team in the resort town.
The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) heads the disaster management committee.
Yesterday, the chairperson of the Sadc Summit local organising committee, Victoria Falls mayor Councillor Sifiso Mpofu, said the issue of safety and disaster management dominated the meeting with Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Dr Ray Ndhlukula expressing concern over the issue.
Dr Ndhlukula met the local organising committee in the resort town during which he assessed progress on preparations and engaged committee members on the need to come up with a disaster management plan and co-ordination.
“It was noted in the meeting that when that crash occurred people started running around because of lack of preparedness. The Deputy Chief Secretary then asked the District Administrator to coordinate issues of disaster management with the committee,” said Clr Mpofu.
The DA, Tapera Mugoriya, concurred and said his office was working to improve disaster preparedness.
“The committee is there and all we need to do is to make sure we are ready like we were during last year’s United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). In the event of a disaster where we find ourselves limited, we will be complemented by other provinces. The CPU committee is there and all we need is to improve preparedness,” he said.
Clr Mpofu said the town was ready to host the summit where President Mugabe will host 15 Heads of State and five former presidents.
About 700 delegates are expected to attend this year’s Sadc Summit.
“Preparation are well on course. The committees were reporting on work that has been covered so far and we are prepared to host the meeting. As a council we will be doing some touch ups but as you know we are already a clean town and what we want is the summit to be the best ever,” the mayor said.
Dr Ndhlukula chairs the national steering committee that comprises permanent secretaries from different ministries.
The secretariat is expected to arrive in Victoria Falls on August 4 followed by a meeting of the finance sub-committee on August 7 and 8.
A meeting of the standing committee of senior officials will be held between August 10 and 12 while the council of ministers will meet on August 14 and 15.
Heads of State are expected on August 16 ahead of the summit the following day when Zimbabwe will assume chairmanship of the regional bloc until next year.
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