Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
ZIMBABWE is set to overhaul its disaster management framework as the Government moves to replace the Civil Protection Act with a new Disaster Risk Management Bill designed to shift the country from reacting to disasters towards preventing and reducing the impact of risks before they occur.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe Youth Symposium on Disaster Risk Reduction in Harare yesterday, Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister Engineer Benjamin Kabikira said substantial progress has been made in developing the proposed legislation, which seeks to establish a more comprehensive disaster risk management system.
The reforms come as Zimbabwe continues to face increasing climate-related emergencies, including droughts, floods, storms, disease outbreaks and environmental degradation, which have affected livelihoods, infrastructure and national development efforts.
“Government is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of the Civil Protection Act with a view to replacing it with a modern and progressive Disaster Risk Management Bill,” Eng Kabikira said.
“The proposed DRM Bill represents a major shift from a disaster response-oriented approach towards a comprehensive disaster risk management system that prioritises prevention, preparedness, mitigation, resilience building, recovery and sustainable development.”
The new legislation is expected to strengthen coordination among institutions, improve early warning systems, promote risk-informed development planning and increase community participation in disaster management.
For years, disaster management responses have largely focused on relief after emergencies occur, but authorities and development partners say growing climate pressures require a preventive approach that identifies and reduces risks before communities are affected.
ActionAid Zimbabwe Country Director Dr Selina Pasirayi said effective disaster management requires stronger systems that address vulnerabilities at community level.
“Disaster risk is not only about hazard exposure; it is about inequality, access and preparedness,” she said.
Dr Pasirayi said experiences from disasters such as Cyclone Idai demonstrated the need to strengthen recovery and preparedness systems beyond emergency response.
The proposed reforms are expected to align Zimbabwe’s disaster management framework with international commitments, including the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Sendai Framework advocates for an all-of-society approach where communities, governments, civil society, the private sector and other stakeholders work together to reduce disaster risks.
Eng Kabikira said the Government is committed to ensuring that the legislative reform process is inclusive, with input from young people, women, persons with disabilities, local authorities, civil society, academia and the private sector.
The push for a new disaster management framework comes as Zimbabwe has been increasingly experiencing the effects of climate variability, with droughts affecting food production and water availability, while extreme weather events are threatening communities.
Dr Pasirayi said a strong legal framework will provide a foundation for accountability, coordination and equitable protection.
“A robust legal framework is not an administrative milestone; it is a foundation for accountability, coordination and equitable protection,” she said.
As Zimbabwe works towards finalising the new law, stakeholders said the real test will be in translating policy reforms into stronger preparedness systems that protect communities before disasters strike.
Meanwhile, the symposium also highlighted the growing role of young people in disaster risk governance, with the Government endorsing the Zimbabwe National Youth Desk on Disaster Risk Reduction as a platform for youth participation.
The desk, established after the inaugural youth symposium in 2024, has become a platform for young people to contribute to disaster policy discussions, research and community resilience programmes.
Secretary for the Africa Youth Advisory Board on Disaster Risk Reduction, Ms Ruth Chomola, said Zimbabwe’s youth model could provide lessons for the continent.
She said policies need to be supported by adequate financing to ensure implementation.
“Policies must be followed up with adequate financing to enable implementation,” she said.
