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Learning from the tropical cyclones that ravaged Zimbabwe: policy implications for effective disaster preparedness

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  • Emmanuel Mavhura

    (Bindura University of Science Education)

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, post-disaster 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.

Suggested Citation

  • Emmanuel Mavhura, 2020. "Learning from the tropical cyclones that ravaged Zimbabwe: policy implications for effective disaster preparedness," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 104(3), pages 2261-2275, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:104:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s11069-020-04271-7
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-020-04271-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sanket Mohapatra & George Joseph & Dilip Ratha, 2012. "Remittances and natural disasters: ex-post response and contribution to ex-ante preparedness," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 365-387, June.
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    3. Emmanuel Mavhura, 2016. "Disaster legislation: a critical review of the Civil Protection Act of Zimbabwe," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(1), pages 605-621, January.
    4. Galateia Terti & Isabelle Ruin & Sandrine Anquetin & Jonathan Gourley, 2015. "Dynamic vulnerability factors for impact-based flash flood prediction," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 79(3), pages 1481-1497, December.
    5. Rodríguez-Espíndola, Oscar & Albores, Pavel & Brewster, Christopher, 2018. "Disaster preparedness in humanitarian logistics: A collaborative approach for resource management in floods," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 264(3), pages 978-993.
    6. Yuqin Jiang & Zhenlong Li & Susan L. Cutter, 2019. "Social Network, Activity Space, Sentiment, and Evacuation: What Can Social Media Tell Us?," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 109(6), pages 1795-1810, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dickson Machimbidza & Louis Nyahunda & Jabulani C. Makhubele, 2022. "The importance of social work roles in disaster risk management in Zimbabwe," Technium Social Sciences Journal, Technium Science, vol. 27(1), pages 717-726, January.
    2. Mavhura, Emmanuel & Raj Aryal, Komal, 2023. "Disaster mortalities and the Sendai Framework Target A: Insights from Zimbabwe," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    3. Feiyue Wang & Ziling Xie & Zhongwei Pei & Dingli Liu, 2022. "Emergency Relief Chain for Natural Disaster Response Based on Government-Enterprise Coordination," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-22, September.
    4. Emmanuel Mavhura & Edson Munsaka & Gloria Round & Nomathemba Ngwenya & Paul Mabanga & Zacharia Jusa, 2024. "Disaster policy framework analysis: Experts' perspectives on the usefulness of the disaster legislation in Zimbabwe," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 36(2), pages 852-866, March.

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