The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
THE number of climate and weather-related disasters have risen by 35 percent worldwide since the 1990s, a lecturer in the Department of Disaster Risk Management at Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE), Dr Emmanuel Mavhura has said.
Presenting a paper during a national dialogue programme on natural disaster management, which was held in Harare recently, Dr Mavhura called on authorities to act before it is too late.
“From 1970 up to 2020, droughts have been increasing drastically. Also, natural disaster-related mortality has been increasing at an alarming rate.
“There is need for the relevant authorities to take note of these developments and act before it is too late,” Dr Mavhura said.
He added that Southern Africa, like other parts of the world, has been affected by climate change in recent years, with disasters such as Cyclone Idai now frequenting the region.
Dr Mavhura urged the Southern African region to revisit its disaster management frameworks.
“There is need for governments in the Southern African region to review their disaster landscape for the past 10 years,” he said.
“There should also be a review of the funding mechanisms and allocations for disaster management in the region.”
