Our memories can never forget that fateful day in the Eastern Highlands when a thick cloud of grief gripped the Chimanimani community due to the ravaging effects of cyclone Idai in the year 2019. Thereafter, government, development partners, companies and well-wishers have been working together to facilitate disaster recovery efforts.
At the time of its occurrence, the natural disaster shattered the hopes of the community destroying infrastructure and also claiming human life. It is considered by scientists as the most devastating cyclone to ever affect the Southern Hemisphere. Zimbabwe and Mozambique, the countries seriously affected, have both been making steady progress and strides to ensure recovery.
Although cyclones occur naturally in geographical time and manifest themselves in heavy rainfall and extreme and violent winds; it is proven that the recent cyclones can be attributed to climate change. Infrastructure and vegetation can be seriously compromised whereas human life is lost during cyclones.
The Government of Zimbabwe, Civil Protection Unit, United Nations, Development partners, private companies and other key stakeholders were present to assist in the vicinity of the cyclone in order to facilitate rescue operations and now the focus is on the rebuilding. Furthermore, a collaborative approach was adopted by stakeholders to ensure that affected families got relief, food, shelter and clothing at the time of emergency. In recent months focus has also been put to step up reconstruction of the affected areas and bring the community back to normalcy.
Disasters come and go and as a nation what is now key is to see how to rebuild and recover from the catastrophe. It is recommended that as a country we strengthen infrastructure towards resilient infrastructure that can withstand the extreme events. There are times of course where infrastructure will succumb whether strong or not, but there is opportunity for improving existing frameworks. This may entail strengthening existing building codes to enhance climate resilient infrastructure. Partnerships and collaborations will also enhance our resilience to disasters. Investment and research in early warning systems is also an opportunity that can be pursued to strengthen disaster preparedness at community level.
At an international level there is the Sendai Framework on Disaster Preparedness. The Sendai Framework replaced the Hyogo Framework. These frameworks are very useful in the face of potential and imminent disasters. As we recover from the debilitating effects of the cyclone, let us also adopt some of the strategies that have been proposed in the global frameworks as we deal with the natural disasters in an ever changing climate. The path to recovery is possible through multi-stakeholder partnerships.
