Zimbabwe premiered the first ever documentary since the unfolding of the unprecedented climatic weather pattern which ravaged lives and infrastructure in Chimanimani and parts of Chipinge. A documentary titled “Chronicles of Cyclone Idai,” gives a preview of the escalation of the weather phenomenon to the unforgettable moments that took place during the night of 15 March 2019 in the Eastern Highlands.
The documentary was premiered on the 23rd of March 2020 at Monomotapa Hotel in Harare and Its production was developed by Savanna Trust with the support of its partners. The footage in the production contains a series of events being narrated by the survivors of Cyclone Idai. It then depicts the way local communities were caught unaware despite a short notice from the country’s Meteorological Department issuing an early warning prior to the beginning of the tragedy. As the survivors explain their ordeal in battling the traumatic incident, the footage reveals rubbles of the once erected houses, scattered bones of animals, mass graves of human beings and a completely deformed geographical terrain of Chimanimani.
Speaking during the launch of the documentary, Veronica Jakarasi a Climate Change Negotiator and Forest Commission Board Chairperson commended the documentary saying that it presents the evidence needed by negotiators at international forums on Climate Change. The documentary can also assist the government in upscaling its actions on climate disaster preparedness. “I commend the work done by Savanna Trust in producing a Climate Change documentary on Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani. The documentary comes with originality and is authentic to what transpired in Chimanimani. it brings the evidence that we use as Climate Change Negotiators during the international forums on Climate Change. Basing on the events, it is high time we work more on preparedness rather than waiting to respond after a catastrophe,” she said. Daniel Maphosa, Director of Savanna Trust echoed similar sentiments saying the documentary tries to give a preview of what happened in Chimanimani and informs the actions the country needs to take in curbing impacts of Climate Change. He said that Zimbabwe is not immune to climate change.
“Climate Change has become a global phenomenon and Zimbabwe is not immune to its challenges. Against this background, we decided to come up with the documentary that effectively gives the magnitude of the effects of Climate Change in Chimanimani. These effects have come to a point that they can no longer be ignored. In this view we say Climate Change should now be a natural discussion so that communities are well informed on climate change mitigation and adaptation,” Daniel Maphosa reiterated. Amid all this, calls have been made to channel resources towards upscaling the work of environmental and climate change journalists so that climate change matters are well captured and communicated in the most appropriate ways visible and accessible to different international communities. These include funding for capacity building and media equipment such as drones, cameras among other digital devices.
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