Story by Tarirai Madhuyu
SADC climate experts converged in Harare this Monday ahead of the Southern African Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF – 29), to be held in the capital from August 26 to 28, with strengthening climate change migration strategies high on the agenda.
Speaking on the sidelines of the engagement, SADC Secretariat Senior Programme Officer, Ms Surekhs Ramessur highlighted that SARCOF-29 is expected to come up with regional climate change mitigation strategies.
“This meeting will enable regional countries to come up with local ideas to counter the effects of climate change. We must start to focus more on local strategies than global strategies as counter-measures against El Nino.
“We are also doing this so that we will be able to efficiently plan for the next farming season as African countries. This will also allow the country to come up with sufficient budget allocation aimed at mitigating various challenges especially drought and unexpected disasters.”
World Meteorological Organisation’s Director for Public Relations, Ms Rebecca Manzou emphasised the importance of African nations embracing Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) in addressing challenges posed by climate change.
“These are preparations for the 2024-2025 rainfall season where we are urging regional countries to adopt the use of IKS against global strategies in countering the effects of climate change.
“We have realised that indigenous knowledge systems can be effective, as you know Zimbabwe has already started implementing indigenous knowledge in our farming activities.”
Zimbabwe has implemented the climate-proof Pfumvudza/ Intwasa programme to enhance food security, beginning at the household level.
