Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
Zimbabwe will next week host the Sixth Ordinary meeting of the SADC Committee of Ministers responsible for Disaster Risk Management in Masvingo, with delegates from the regional body’s 16 member states expected to grace the indaba.
The meeting will run from the 11th to the 14th at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel in Masvingo.
Senior government officials, disaster management experts, representatives of humanitarian organisations and development partners from across the SADC region will be in attendance at the indaba.
It will run under the theme, “Building Back Better Together: Advancing Resilient Recovery and Sustainable Development in SADC.”
Zimbabwe was selected to host the important regional gathering after the country agreed to share some of the meetings following South Africa’s assumption of the SADC chairmanship, amid logistical challenges that had arisen in Madagascar.
The conference is expected to focus on strengthening regional cooperation in disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery as climate change continues to expose Southern African countries to disasters such as floods, droughts, cyclones, veld fires and disease outbreaks.
Director for Communications and Advocacy in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Mr Gabriel Masvora, said all preparations for the meeting were now complete.
“Everything is now in place for the successful hosting of the Sixth Ordinary Meeting of the SADC Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management in Masvingo,” he said.
“Delegates are expected to start arriving in Harare from Friday before being transported to Masvingo for the commencement of the conference,” added Mr Masvora.
He framed the meeting as significant, noting that disasters were increasingly becoming transboundary in nature, making regional collaboration critical.
“Countries within the SADC region are facing growing transboundary threats associated with climate change and environmental shocks.
“This meeting therefore provides an important platform for member states to strengthen cooperation, share experiences and come up with coordinated approaches towards disaster risk reduction and resilient recovery.”
Zimbabwe has previously hosted similar high-level regional disaster management engagements.
In November 2024, while holding the SADC chairmanship, Zimbabwe hosted the SADC Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management in Victoria Falls.
During this meeting in Victoria Falls, regional leaders deliberated on strengthening disaster preparedness, humanitarian response systems and the operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC).
According to Mr Masvora, the SADC gathering will, among other things, deliberate on resilience building, sustainable development and regional preparedness in the face of emerging disaster risks.
