D ISASTER RISK REDUCTION EFFORTS IN ZIMBABWE
GOVERNANCE - POLITICAL COMMITMENT AND INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS
In Zimbabwe, political will is amply demonstrated by the existence of the legal
enabling statute, which creates the conducive environment in which a dedicated
disaster management department was spawned. The institutional framework,
appropriate policy development and legislative codes all flow from the corporate
commitment.
It is National Policy for Civil Protection that every citizen of this country should assist
where possible to avert or limit the effects of disaster. As provided by the Zimbabwe
Civil Protection Act of 1989, central government initiates hazard reduction measures
through relevant sector Ministries with the local administration taking the
responsibility for implementing its effectiveness.
The Department of Civil Protection is a national organ, which is housed under the
Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing. The Department
was established to carry out the overall co-ordination of all relevant disaster
management stakeholders. The Department is headed by one Director, one Deputy
director, supported by officers and secretaries / typists and a driver. The current
system uses the existing Government , private, and NGO organisations whose regular
activities contain elements of disaster risk prevention and community development.
The Structure of Zimbabwe Civil Protection System
Parliament (Legislative)
President (Head of State)
Cabinet (Policy formulation)
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MLG,PW Sister Ministry Departments NGO
&NH Representatives
The major priority components of the current Act that enables its implementation
include the organisational structure of civil protection in Zimbabwe from the Local
Authority level to the National level, formation of the National, Provincial and
District Civil Protection Committees and their subsequent sub committees, the
component of planning for emergencies / disasters, the establishment of a Civil
Protection Disaster Fund, procedures of declaring a State of Disaster etc.
The country has engaged in a process to review its legislation since 1995 in an effort
to strengthen disaster risk reduction. All relevant stakeholders were consulted during
the review process and the process has culminated in a Bill for consideration by
parliament this year, 2004.
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The major priorities for the Bill include include among others;
• Repeal of the current Civil Protection Act and to be replaced by the Emergency
Preparedness and Disaster Management Act.
• Establishment of an Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Authority
whose major functions include developing a risk reduction strategy in order to
minimize vulnerability to both natural and man made or technological hazards
.
• Establishment of an integrated early warning system for emergencies and
disasters,
• Promotion of training and research in mattes relating to disasters,
• Integration of disaster risk reduction into all developmental initiatives
• Standardised training for emergency services
• Establishment of a funding mechanism for disaster risk reduction at both the local
and national levels.
• Capacitating of local authorities to manage emergencies and disasters at the local
level.
In terms of funding, the Department of Civil Protection administers the National Civil
Protection Fund which receives money from the Central Government. The fund is
applied to the development and promotion of Civil Protection activities through out
the country.
RISK IDENTIFICATION
Through the Department of Civil Protection the country has in the past conducted a
multi sectoral hazard and vulnerability mapping exercise throughout the country. The
exercises created the foundation for the development of sectoral emergency
preparedness and response plans which are currently being operationalised by the
respective sectors / government departments as directed by the National Crisis
Committee of Zimbabwe. Again the findings of the hazard analysis exercises guide
the stakeholders in their endeavours in developing Emergency Preparedness and
Response (EPR) programmes, which include among others public awareness
campaigns and community based early warning outreach programmes.
The county carries out regular vulnerability and capacity assessments especially
during periods of shocks to collect baseline data for intervention. The methods used
include community and household interviews particularly in the rural areas where the
most vulnerable people are. Vulnerability assessments have also been carried out in
the urban areas with similar objectives of identifying the most vulnerable groups
interms of food access and availability, vulnerability to diseases and the impact of
HIV/AIDS.
Zimbabwe has made attempts to integrate lessons learnt from past major emergencies
and disasters such as droughts, cyclones and major public transportation disasters to
examine the extent of damage caused, and to come up with lessons strategies on same.
The disaster review / lessons learnt seminars resulted in the improved early warning
system of the country’s hydro- meteorological disasters such as flooding, cyclones
and droughts. The Meteorological Services Department closely monitors the weather
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and is mandated to regularly give updates and warning information through the laid
down channels of communication. The general public is informed of any threatening
events through the pre-set channels of communication
All Disaster Preparedness and Response activities in the country are done through the
National Crisis Committee and its sub committees with assistance of technical experts
who also constitute a sub committee
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
The Government of Zimbabwe has not yet developed a database on disaster risk
reduction. Information is still being managed at institutional level through sharing
reports, minutes, newsletters, and email facilities. However, some UN agencies have
developed Web Sites and are working towards the development of databases to enable
real-time information sharing with interested partners.
The Department has no modern infrastructure that facilitates communication and
networking between disaster risk reduction institutions and research centres.
However, the recently developed bill has the provision to facilitate communication
and networking through the establishment of a disaster management centre where
relevant stakeholders would be housed and linked together. Funding for the centre
need to be secured.
The Department co-ordinates quite a number of public awareness programmes
tailored for both the wet and dry seasons. Awareness campaigns on flooding,
drowning and lightning hazards are carried out towards and during the wet season
whilst campaigns on fire hazards are done in winter. The campaigns are done using a
multisectoral approach with Department of Civil Protection having the role of
designing and co-ordinating the programmes. Information is disseminated through the
press, by pamphlets and road shows. Budgetary constrains limit the use of the
electronic media whose effect is far reaching.
The Government of Zimbabwe engages existing institutions for the execution of
scientific research work that is in line with disaster risk reduction. For example
technical support for scientific research can be obtained from the University of
Zimbabwe and from the Scientific Institute of Research and Development Co-
operation (SIRDC) both of which are parastatals. The works they are involved in
include studying soil sampled eg in communities that are vulnerable to flooding
emergencies and developing sustainable construction materials. They also recommend
to policy makers on whether such places are suitable for human settlement or not.
Their expertise has also been called for in designing rural building and low cost
sewage reticulation plants.
RISK MANAGEMENT APPLICATION/ INSTRUMENT
Disaster management in Zimbabwe takes a holistic approach. It incorporates all at risk
institutions / sectors of the country and the protection of each sector is supported and
empowered by existing statutory instruments such as the Environment Management
Act. The provisions of the Act protects / averts environmental degradation in all
circles such as mining and farming communities etc. The Government of Zimbabwe
is running programmes such as the Food for Work Programme or the Public Works
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Programme, which promotes environmental management at community level. Able
bodied community members who require government assistance in terms of food or
cash respectively are engaged in programmes such as gully filling, reforestation etc
and get food. or are paid in cash. Other NGOs are also into environmental
management programmes.
The Department of Civil Protection in collaboration with relevant stakeholders carry
out regular seasonal awareness campaigns with the use of both print and electronic
media, trade fair exhibitions on fire hazards which threaten the environment.
Other risk reduction measures:-
There has been increased sectoral focus on disaster risk reduction particularly in the
following areas:-
• health - disease control particularly HIV and AIDS. Cholera
and malaria
• environment - strengthening of environmental impact assessment
requirements and subsequent monitoring.
• transport - a greater awareness and focus on prevention of
transportation accidents.
• water - general increased risk reduction efforts through water
harvesting and an improved early warning system for
floods and droughts.
• food security - greater awareness for sustainable food security
measures.
There has been heightened awareness on hazards and their impacts by the general
public. The media has also demonstrated a keen interest and indeed, is an effective
tool of information dessemination.
PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Planning for emergencies in Zimbabwe is done at various levels namely sectoral
level, local authority, district, provincial and National levels. As provided for by the
Civil Protection Act, all these levels are required to produce operational emergency
preparedness and response plans which they activate during emergencies / disasters.
The National Civil Protection Plan forms the overall framework for the promotion,
co-ordination and execution of emergency and disaster management in Zimbabwe.
The localised plans should dovetail in to the National plan.
The plans highlight among other things the alert mechanisms / procedures, evacuation
procedures, stock of resources available both material and human, contact details of
focal manpower etc and should be reviewed regularly at least once a year. The plans
are being used as and when emergencies occur and sectors also carry out regular
simulation exercises to practically review the plans.
As highlighted before the Department of Civil Protection in Zimbabwe manages a
Disaster Fund, which is financed by the Central Government. However, the Fund may
not be able to fulfil all disaster management initiatives throughout the year. Where
more resources are required in the event of major disasters occurring at any given
time, the enabling legislation has a provision through which the Treasury can inject
additional funding.
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With the consideration of lessons that were drawn from past experiences of disasters
of differing magnitudes, the overall co-ordination of disaster management in
Zimbabwe has significantly improved over the past years.
The strategic grain reserve for the country is a central government responsibility
carried out by the Grain Marketing board, which is a parastatal organisation. It
maintains the reserve both in grain and in cash. Grain silos are situated in the northern
parts of the country. However, a number of temporary sites are created to cope with
emergencies During sustained periods of droughts importation of grain takes place.
Such importation may require assistance from the international community through
the UN- WFP donors and their implementing partners.
SUCCESS STORIES IN DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT
Development of Strategy to Integrate Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency
Preparedness into the education system of Zimbabwe and taking advantage of
the multiplier effect by the Education system:
The strategy was developed in an effort to promote a culture of prevention. Its
purpose being to contribute to greater awareness of disaster risks and readiness for
emergencies in the country. It has three major areas of focus namely;
- production of a comprehensive guidelines on emergency procedures
for schools and other educational institutions.
- integration of disaster risk reduction into the schools curricula.
- improve guidelines on the setting up/construction and maintenance of
schools infrastructure.
The strategy was initiated in July 2003 and is one of the current major activities
in the country.
Review of Civil protection Act of Zimbabwe
The review process has culminated in a Bill for consideration by parliament this year,
2004.
PRIORITIES YOU WANT ADDRESSED AT WORLD CONFERENCE ON
DISASTER REDUCTION
• Capacity building – human resources, equipment and networking,
• Sub-regional and regional co-operation on disaster management,
• Policy development on synergy within the Africa Region.
