Story by John Nhandara
THE government is enhancing national resilience against disasters through homegrown solutions to achieve the goals of the current global frameworks for disaster and risk management.
The country is a signatory to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015 to 2030) and the sustainable development agenda 2030.
This emerged during a workshop on disaster management and risk profiling at the Parliament Building in Mt Hampden this Tuesday.
“If disaster risk reduction is not prioritised at the highest echelon, all our endeavours in achieving Vision 2030 will go to waste as disasters can divert our development resources towards humanitarian assistance. It is for this reason that the coordination structure for disaster risk reduction is underpinned by the Cabinet Committee on Environment, Disaster Prevention and Management (CCEDPM) tasked with the responsibility for optimal readiness and management of emergencies and disasters and ensuring integration of disaster risk reduction into development,” the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public works, Honourable Albert Mavhunga said.
Meanwhile, the Clerk of Parliament, Mr Kennedy Chokuda said the engagement will enable them to come up with necessary protocols and a disaster risk management plan for the Parliament Building.
“We will come up with a Disaster risk management plan especially for this building and protocols so that in the event of disaster we are prepared and reduce any eventualities like loss of property or lives. This is our asset which we must safeguard,” he said.
The workshop was attended by stakeholders that include officials from the Civil Protection Department, the Ministry of Health and Child Care and the Radiation Authority of Zimbabwe.
