Story by Mercy Matinha
SOUTHERN African Development Community (SADC) member states have intensified calls for stronger regional cooperation and increased investment in disaster preparedness as ministers responsible for disaster risk management meet in Masvingo amid growing climate-induced disasters across the region.
The high-level meeting comes as Southern Africa continues to battle recurring cyclones, floods and prolonged droughts that have disrupted livelihoods, displaced communities and deepened food insecurity.
Officially opening the meeting on Wednesday, South Africa’s Minister and Chairperson of the Committee of Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management, Honourable Velenkosini Hlabisa said regional collaboration remains critical in responding to increasingly complex disasters.
“Regional solidarity and cooperation remain the cornerstone of an effective disaster risk management system within SADC. We must continue to share information, strengthen risk intelligence, promote people-centred multi-hazard early warning systems, and enhance coordination mechanisms to enable rapid and effective responses when disasters occur,” he said.
SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Angèle Makombo N’Tumba, urged member states to institutionalise disaster preparedness and mobilise sustainable financing mechanisms to strengthen resilience programmes across the region.
“We must prioritise sustainable financing for resilience. SADC must build its own capacity to finance resilience through regional disaster funds, risk insurance pools, and partnerships with the private sector,” she said.
She also called for the urgent operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre to improve coordination during emergencies.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable Daniel Garwe, warned that climate change is making disasters more frequent, severe and interconnected, placing greater pressure on governments and vulnerable communities.
“The disasters we face today are becoming more complex, more intense, and more interconnected. We must therefore move beyond reactive approaches and embrace a proactive, forward-looking agenda,” he said.
The meeting is being held under the theme: “Building Back Better Together: Advancing Resilient Recovery and Sustainable Development in SADC.”
