The increase in flood intensity and frequency poses a threat to community infrastructure and affects the total well-being of children in regard to: access to food, health, school attendance, access ...to clean water and sanitation, physical and social security. Using both qualitative and quantitative data, this article provided an overview of flood disasters and their potential effects on children’s access to quality education in Zimbabwe. The purpose of the study was to analyse school children’s specific vulnerabilities to flood disasters that need to be taken into account in policy development. Research indicated that floods cause loss of learning hours, loss of qualified personnel, outbreak of waterborne diseases, high absenteeism and low syllabus coverage leading to children’s poor academic performance. Children noted a range of experiences, from food insecurity to being withdrawn from school and sometimes forced into early marriages. These challenges compromise children’s rights and access to quality education. This article therefore recommended that a culture of safety be promoted through disaster education, development of good road networks and enforcement of building codes during construction of school infrastructure. Findings also supported the need for adaptation strategies to ensure that the risks specific to school children are addressed.
Flood risk studies remain focused on understanding causation, impacts, perceptions and coping and adaptation measures and there remain many inappropriate measures taken to reduce household risk. ...Through a case study approach, this study assessed rural household vulnerability to flooding which helped to determine the level of risk to flood hazards in Mbire District of Zimbabwe. Three hundred and thirty-five (335) households were randomly selected to participate in the survey. The composite index approach was used to calculate vulnerability and risk indices. Results indicated that more than 70% of the households were highly vulnerable to flooding and about 50% were in the medium to very high categories of flood risk. Household vulnerability was not only a question of the natural flood event, but a result of the intersection of poor socio-economic conditions and the physical exposure to floods. The socio-economic determinants of vulnerability included high levels of unemployment resulting in low income and poverty; low levels of education; and over-dependence of the community on rain-fed smallholder farming. Physical exposure of the community mainly resulted from materials used to construct houses. Pole and dagga houses had a higher degree of exposure compared to houses with bricks and cement. Therefore, we recommend that instead of focusing on the whole ward/district the institutional services should first target the most vulnerable and at risk households in order to increase their capacity in dealing with flood hazards.
Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe exposed deficiencies in the country’s disaster management system. This study uses a phenomenological case exploration of the experiences of local residents in Rusitu Valley ...following cyclone-induced floods that affected the area in March 2019. Through capturing narratives of participants who were recruited through chain referrals, the research intends to understand how local actors, utilizing their local-based response systems, managed to fill in the voids that characterize disaster management practice in Zimbabwe. Results show that the participation of local “heroes” and “Samaritans,” by deploying their social networks, norms, relationships, practices, and modest ingenuity, helped to speed up response times and minimize threats to lives and livelihoods. Documentation of the stories of local actors about their disaster experiences also gives a richer picture of the Cyclone Idai disaster. Although the community response system also facilitated the operation of external disaster management agencies, their premature withdrawal tended to weaken the trust and values existing in the area, and created tensions between the disaster-affected people and other villagers. Given the delays in formal responses by the government and other external relief agencies, the practices of local actors, although spontaneous and largely uncoordinated, offer rich insights into the design and development of disaster management regimes.
On 14 March 2019, Zimbabwe was hit by Cyclone Idai, leaving immeasurable destruction of unprecedented magnitude in its wake. In Chimanimani District, many lives were lost, many people were reported ...missing, and others were displaced. The question that immediately comes to mind is: Was the country prepared to manage the Cyclone Idai disaster? Reflecting on the community experiences, the purpose of this research was to interrogate the strength of the disaster risk reduction legislation and institutions in Zimbabwe in the face of meteorological hazards. The research also evaluated the extent of the impact Cyclone Idai had on the Chimanimani communities and the factors that increased the vulnerability to the cyclone. A mixed method approach that involved 1180 participants was used. The study found that disaster risk management legislation and institutions in Zimbabwe are weak. Cyclone Idai resulted in the loss of many human lives, loss of livelihoods, and massive damage to infrastructure. The cyclone exposed capacity and policy gaps in Zimbabwe’s disaster risk management system. The study makes a number of recommendations, including strengthening disaster legislation and policy, and disaster risk governance. Given the communities’ response to the disaster occurrence, the study also recommends strengthening social capital.
Floods are one of the most devastating weather‐related hazards that are affecting millions of people over the world every year. In some poor resource areas such as Mbire District in Zimbabwe, the ...floods are difficult to anticipate and prepare for. Hence the need for spatial modelling of the past flood events for effective response and management. This study modelled the flood extent and depth based on data from household surveys, transect walks and a digital elevation model (DEM). A sample of 304 households was used, with 70% for calibration and 30% for validation of the flood extent. Twenty‐four flood depth measurements obtained from transect walks were used to validate the modelled flood depths based on a linear regression model. The flood depth of the worst most recent flood (January 2015) at each household was combined with altitude from the DEM using the sum function, and the inverse distance weighting was applied to model the worst flood depth. The flood extent was considered as those areas where flood depth was higher than the DEM. Approximately 24% of the area was covered by floods. The modelled flood extent agreed reasonably well with what was reported during the survey (probability of detection 0.93 and accuracy level about 0.8). Most of the areas in the wards experienced flood depths greater than 2 m, especially along the major rivers. Such areas are dangerous for people, animals and properties such as boreholes, houses, schools and clinics located on the floodplain. These results can be used for planning purposes in preparing and responding to stages of the flood management cycle. However, there is a need for further research to improve the performance and applicability of the methodology applied in this study in other settings.
This study highlights the need and application of easy to use models in flood risk mapping especially in poor data or ungauged areas/basins for preparedness and response to floods. The model proposed in this study is based on data from household survey, transect walks and digital elevation model (DEM). The modelled flood extent agreed reasonably well with what was reported during the survey.
ABSTRACT
The Southern Annular Mode (SAM) is a natural climate mode of variability whose discovery can be traced back at least as far as the beginning of the 20th century, before human activities ...produced enough gases to noticeably change the climate. However, recent observed changes in the SAM are linked to increases of greenhouse gases and stratospheric ozone depletion, hence assigning SAM's alterations, in large part, to human activities. In this study, the 20th century reanalysis data were used to establish the SAM's prominent shifts during the years 1917, 1961 and 1997. The first shift coincides with abrupt greenhouse gas increases and the latter shifts are attributed to stratospheric ozone level changes. The East Africa ‘Short Rains’ (EASR) index derived from the Global Precipitation Climatology Center (GPCC) dating back to the beginning of the 20th century, demonstrates coinciding shifts with the SAM index. However, the SAM's influence on EASR appears to be achieved through a meridional dipole that is formed in the sea‐level pressure of the Indian Ocean basin, with one pole over the Tropics and the other over the extratropics. When this dipole pattern is weakly developed as the period between 1961 and 1997, the SAM is decoupled from the EASR and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) demonstrates a dominant role in modulating the EASR. The SAM is also linked to the IOD through its control of the Mascarene High variability, hence connecting the SAM to the dominant circulation variability in the Indian Ocean. Although the El Nino Southern Oscillation is strongly correlated to EASR, it is not related to the epochal variability in the rainfall. Therefore, the slow modulation in EASR is linked to the SAM whose shifts are triggered by gases emanating from human influences.
Climate change presents a considerable threat to human security, with notable gender disproportions. Women’s vulnerability to climate change has implications on agro-based livelihoods, especially the ...rural populace. The primary purpose of this study was to assess women’s vulnerability to climate change and the gender-skewed implications on agro-based livelihoods in rural Zvishavane, Zimbabwe. A qualitative approach that used purposive sampling techniques was adopted. Data was collected through 20 in-depth interviews with 11 de jure and 9 de facto small-scale female-headed farmer households. Two focus group discussions with mixed de facto and de jure small-scale female-headed farmer households were also conducted. Five key informant interviews were held with departmental heads of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Gender and Community Development; the Agriculture Technical Extension Service Department; the Livestock Production Department; the Runde Rural District Council and the Meteorological Services Department. Gendered effects were noted in terms of increased roles and responsibilities for women. Observations showed that there was an increase in distances travelled by women to fetch water owing to a depleted water table. Climate-induced migration of men due to depleted livelihoods in rural areas has also increased roles and responsibilities for women. The traditional male responsibilities assumed by women included cattle herding and ox-driven ploughing. This study concluded that adaptation strategies towards vulnerability to climate change have to be gender-sensitive and area-specific. This study also recommended that response programmes and policies meant to curb existing gendered vulnerabilities should be informed by evidence because climate-change effects are unique for different geographical areas. Moreover, adaptation activities should be mainstreamed in community processes so as to reduce the burden on women and increase sustainability opportunities.
Children are often excluded from disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities, yet they are one of the most vulnerable groups to disasters. As a result, they experience physical, psychological and ...educational vulnerabilities. There is lack of research on children's participation in DRR and their potential value in strengthening community resilience has been largely overlooked. Therefore, this article highlights the existing research and knowledge gap in children's participation in DRR. It highlights the existing research and knowledge gap by reviewing literature on the concept of children's participation in DRR. The article analyses the different ways in which children's participation in DRR has been conceptualised, and how this has influenced the way children are involved in DRR. The study will then explore the obstacles to involving children and their potential contribution in DRR.
The study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the community-based rehabilitation (CBR) project in Ward 20 of Chipinge in Zimbabwe and ascertain the positive district changes in the quality of ...life and disaster resilience of children with disability. Effectiveness involved examining the role of the parents of children with disabilities and the general community in the CBR programme, the extent to which children living with disabilities (CWDs) have been empowered to live quality life and access basic social services and evaluate whether local resources and capacities were being utilised. Data were collected through key informant interviews, document analysis and focus group discussions. The CBR model borrows heavily from rights-based approaches to development. Its practical application is problematic because of difficulties in defining issues such as participation and the ability of developing and poor communities to generate resources for these programmes. The study found that factors that hinder the effectives of CBR programmes included continuous dependence on donor funding, lack of political will by government and local authorities to commit financial resources towards CBR implementation and unreliable referral systems for access of services for children with disability. Gaps identified include establishing appropriate context-specific strategies that suit developing countries. The government and local authorities should prioritise resource allocation for marginalised groups such as people with disabilities. Civil society should not be the major and only source of funding for CBR. Extensive consultations should be made to adapt the CBR model to the socio-economic context of developing countries. The referral system for access to services for CWDs should be strengthened.
Flood preparedness involves building capacities of communities for effective disaster response and recovery. Communities that effectively prepare for disasters can save life and minimise injuries, ...property damage and any psychological pain/stress associated with hazards. In view of this, the present study assessed the preparedness of riparian communities living in Mbire district, Zimbabwe and identified their capacity building needs. It used a weighted 5-point Likert Scale to quantify 11 preparedness indicators: resource availability; emergency and evacuation plans; early warning systems; flood knowledge/awareness/education, and proofing information; post-flood recovery; risk communication and social capital. Using a mixed approach, data came from a questionnaire survey involving 304 respondents who were selected through cluster sampling, and five focus group discussions that were purposively selected among the riparian communities. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse quantitative data and determine the level of community preparedness on each variable and indicator. A factor analysis was also conducted to identify the underlying factors that either hindered or promoted flood preparedness. Results show that riparian communities are unprepared for flood disasters. They need capacity building in terms of resource mobilisation, evacuation plans, early warnings, flood education/training/awareness, flood proofing information, post flood recovery and risk communication. A huge majority of about 82% of the indicators showed incipient levels of development. Likewise, about 71% of the variables were at or below incipient level of development. Poverty, flood awareness, social capital and contigency planning emerged as the major drivers of flood preparedness. The study concludes that measuring flood preparedness of riparian communities require context-specific variables. These findings are useful to national and sub-national governments with the mandate to formulate and implement appropriate flood disaster policies and plans where floods are a problem.
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