Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, sukulwenkosi.dube@chronicle.co.zw
Gwanda District is set to implement a comprehensive disaster risk reduction (DRR) training programme across its 24 rural wards as part of efforts to equip communities with the skills and knowledge needed to identify, mitigate, prepare for, and respond effectively to disasters.
The district revised its DRR plan last year to address the growing threat of climate change and to align with updated statistics and ward boundaries. The revised plan incorporates three key documents: the district’s disaster risk profile, disaster risk mitigation and adaptation plan, and the emergency response plan.
In an interview, Gwanda District Development Co-ordinator, Ms Nomathemba Ndlovu, said the training programme represents a critical step in empowering DRR committees at the ward level.
“We now have a DRR plan at the district level, but implementation is done at the ward level, hence the need to train DRR committees within communities. All 24 wards will be covered. We will first train ward extension officers from various ministries and departments, as well as councillors,” she said.
“These ward extension officers will then train DRR committee members, who are made up of community members. The DRR committees are chaired by councillors, while the ward extension officers are also members of the committees.”
Ms Ndlovu explained that the ward extension officers will play a crucial role in monitoring the implementation of DRR plans by communities.
“We want this training to commence at the beginning of next month. The training, funded by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to the tune of US$150 000, will empower ward extension officers to train DRR committee members. These committees will be pivotal in implementing and monitoring DRR plans at the community level,” she said.
During the training, participants will be equipped with knowledge on climate-smart agriculture, livelihoods, disaster mitigation and prevention, water harvesting, water-logging, and other disaster-related issues.
Each ward will develop an active DRR plan to identify potential hazards and implement strategies to mitigate risks. These ward-level plans will feed into the district’s overarching disaster risk mitigation and adaptation plan, as well as its emergency response plan.
The DRR initiative aims to enhance community resilience, enabling them to cope with and recover from disasters while steering the district towards a more sustainable and disaster-resistant future.
Gwanda District is particularly vulnerable to various hazards, including prolonged dry spells, floods, unpredictable weather patterns, public health emergencies, and environmental degradation. Technological hazards, such as mining accidents and road traffic incidents, also pose significant risks.
Public health emergencies, including epidemics, livestock diseases, and drug and substance abuse, further threaten community livelihoods and health.
@DubeMatutu
