Learning from the tropical cyclones that ravaged Zimbabwe: policy implications for effective disaster preparedness
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Learning from the tropical cyclones that ravaged Zimbabwe: policy implications for effective disaster preparedness Emmanuel Mavhura1 Received: 4 October 2019 / Accepted: 27 August 2020 © Springer Nature B.V. 2020
Abstract In view of increasing cyclonic activity in the Indian Ocean, nations in southern Africa should prepare well for flood-related disasters. This paper critically examined the level of preparedness of the government of Zimbabwe to cyclonic disasters using the country’s three most disastrous cyclones during the past two decades: (a) Cyclone Eline of 2000, (b) Cyclone Dineo of 2017 and (c) Cyclone Idai of 2019. In-depth qualitative interviews, postdisaster lessons learned workshops and a review of disaster policies provided data on five key preparedness measures: (a) prepositioning of resources, (b) early warnings, (c) evacuation, (d) citizen participation and (e) effective response. The findings demonstrate that the government of Zimbabwe remains in the disaster-response-disaster cycle instead of a proactive preventive approach to cyclones. Limited financial and material resources constrain effective preparedness to disasters. These problems stem from a weak legislation governing disaster risk reduction. This study therefore proposes five-policy implications for effective disaster preparedness. Keywords Cyclone · Disaster · Evacuation · Preparedness · Zimbabwe
1 Introduction Disaster scholarship and practice engage different stages of a disaster management cycle to understand the ways of reducing the related risks and losses. However, there is no consensus about the stages of a disaster management cycle although preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery have emerged as the most common (Yadav and Barve 2019). These phases are mutually inclusive or overlapping processes (Cheema et al. 2016). Disaster preparedness refers to measures that are developed either by government agencies, nongovernmental organisations (NGO), communities or individuals in advance of an imminent threat with the aim of reducing loss of life, injuries and property damage (Mabuku et al. 2018; UNISDR 2015). It includes building capacities needed to forecast and manage specific threats with a view to orderly move from disaster response through to sustained * Emmanuel Mavhura [email protected]; [email protected] 1
Department of Geography, Bindura University of Science Education, Private Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe
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recovery (Nakanishi and Black 2018). In view of the increasing human and asset exposure and vulnerability to hazards worldwide, the fourth priority of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030) (SFDRR) emphasises on enhancing disaster preparedness at all levels (UN 2015; Wahlstro 2015). However, enhancing disaster preparedness is a huge task, especially for those countries with a high disaster profile. Depending on the hazard, the preparedness activities may involve both structural and non-structural measures (Arifah et al. 2019). In the context o
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