‘Zimbabwe should brace for more weather disasters’

ZORORAI NKOMO
The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has warned that Zimbabwe, which experienced one of its worst cyclones in living memory should brace for more weather-related disasters due to climate change.

Word Meteorological organisation WMO Director for the Regional Office of Africa Amos Makarau, who is in the country to assess the impacts of the just ended disastrous tropical Cyclone Idai told the Business Times in Harare that an urgent template for disaster preparedness is needed as soon as yesterday “Unfortunately we as the country are going to witness more of these disasters.

Zimbabwe like any other country in the world should expect more climate disasters, the only thing we can do now is to prepare for these disasters” said Makarau.

Makarau said the government should minimise bureaucracy in declaring state of emergency in climate-related disasters. “We are very much aware that normally in our governments there is bureaucracy in our governments in Africa.

What we are saying to our counterparts is that there is need to minimise bureaucracy, because for example after a forecast or early warning system is made, it goes through these government layers– the permanent secretary, the minister and to the president. Early warning like disasters should go to the president straight so that urgent action can be taken” said Makarau.

WMO representative for Southern Africa Mark Majodina said the media should be part and parcel in disaster risk reduction in Africa because it’s an indispensable entity in efficient and effective dissemination of climate disasters to communities “We need critical partners like the media to take this information and make sure that they understand what we mean especially the scientific jargon, this can help our communities in Africa” said Majodina The World Meteorological Organisation delegation from Switzerland currently in Zimbabwe for a multi-hazard early warning
services Mission following Tropical Cyclone Idai Disaster.

Zimbabwe is currently struggling to recover from the Effects of Tropical cyclone Idai which the United Nations described as ‘one of the worst
weather-related disasters in Africa’, it has caused extensive damage and devastated the lives of more than 2.6 million people in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.

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