By Martin Muleya.
MUTARE- (News of The South) – It is now a year since Cyclone Idai struck the eastern part of Zimbabwe in March 2019, affecting 270 000 people, but the affected communities are still faced by a slow recovery process and there is need to implement new initiatives and financial resources to reclaim in their livelihoods.
The storm which led to the subsequent flooding and landslides left over 300 people dead while many others are reportedly still missing, with Chimanimani and Chipinge districts being the hardest hit.
Over 129 000 children were affected by Cyclone Idai. The Cyclone was characterized by heavy rains and strong winds. The storm caused high winds and heavy precipitation in the two districts causing the riverine and flash flooding and subsequent deaths, destruction of livelihoods and properties.
Provincial Development Coordinator in Manicaland Province Edgar Seenza said the devastation caused by Cyclone Idai was beyond Government of Zimbabwe’s wildest imagination.
“The destruction was beyond our wildest imagination as we could have not foretold the magnitude of the Cyclone that saw water defying mountains resulting in mudslides. In only three days, 600 millimeters (mm) of rainfall was received,” conceded Seenza back then.
As the recovery process unfolds new initiatives and financial resources are required to reclaim livelihoods, rebuild infrastructure and ensuring that a similar calamity never has the same devastating consequences as those experienced last year.
At a regional climate change dialogue in Mutare last week, organised by the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations during a three day indaba with stakeholders from affected communities and its partners, survivors from the three countries told journalists that they had lost their livelihoods and were continuing to rely on aid for survival.
Hilda Hlabiso (27) who is from Chimanimani explained hard it was for women to access food when Cyclone Idai hit.
“I am a member of Jekesa Pfungwa. I used to live in Chimanimani when Cyclone Idai struck and we were surviving on subsistence farming and savings (Mikando).
“We learnt frm the newspapers, radios and whatsapp messages and we didn’t take it seriously. We thought it was just another cyclone that was harmless. When it did struck a lot of people lost their lives and houses. There is a lot of physical, emotional and sexual abuse within the tents because of shortage of accomodation,” she said.
Another lady Masego Madzwamuse also chronicled how difficult it had become for women to access food.
“When it comes to food distribution women are disadvantaged because our male counterparts are able to easily accessing food. The process is male doninated.
From left to right Misheck Gondo (Regional Coodinator Southern Africa Youth Forum), Leonard Mandishora (Executive Director National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations) and Chikondi Chabvuta (ActionAid Regional Humanitarian Advisor-Southern Africa) addressing a press conference in Mutare
“And when community leaders put down our names on the food aid lists, they make it feel like they are doing us a favour, yet it’s our right,” weighed in Madzwamuse.
Malawi’s survivor Mary Namalomba bemoaned that they were being sidelined from Cyclone Idai conversation.
“Male victims are the ones who are often included in such dialogues, from district, national to regional level because we are the ones who run the households. Women issues need to be addressed,” she said.
Communities in the affected areas urged their governments to help rebuild their lives.
They also raised concern about the lack of effective communication of climate information and coordination between government agencies and the grassroots in managing risk and responding to disasters when they occur, given that these are becoming an increasing occurrence due to the climate crisis.
Community representatives called for better sharing of weather information, including through community bulletin boards and radio.
“In the wake of this catastrophic natural disaster, it is clear that the governments of Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe cannot afford to shoulder the cost of the loss and damage caused by cyclone Idai and undertake the massive reconstruction and rebuilding of people’s lives alone. This situation shows why it is so important that states agree on an adequate international mechanism on loss and damage, with dedicated finances, to support people whose rights have been affected by the climate crisis,” said Tigere Chagutah.
“In the meantime, one year on from the Cyclone, affected governments, and international partners, should renew their commitment, step up reconstruction and ensure that these efforts are done in a way that truly delivers human rights.”
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