SADC ministers seek stronger regional measures against escalating climate crises

SAMUEL NJINGA

Ministers responsible for Disaster Risk Management across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region have called for stronger regional cooperation to confront rising disaster risks driven by climate change and environmental pressures.

The call came during the Sixth Ordinary Meeting held in Masvingo.

The high-level meeting, hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe, brought together ministers, technical experts, development partners and representatives from the SADC to deliberate on strategies aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness, response and recovery systems across the region.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, stressed the urgent need for proactive and resilient disaster management systems throughout Southern Africa.

Garwe said recent floods and cyclones that affected countries including Malawi, South Africa, Mozambique and Madagascar highlighted the growing intensity and frequency of natural disasters in the region.

“These events are not isolated but are part of a growing pattern driven by climate variability and change,” he said.

He commended the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) for deploying emergency response teams to assist affected member states and called for the strengthening of the centre’s operational capacity.

Garwe urged SADC member states to invest in early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure and community-based disaster management initiatives.

“Building back better is not merely about reconstruction; it is about transformation,” he said. “When we rebuild schools, hospitals, roads and communities, we must do so in a manner that withstands future shocks.”

He added that disaster risk reduction must be integrated into national development planning to safeguard economic growth and protect vulnerable communities.

Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Province, Ezra Chadzamira, said the meeting provided a crucial platform for regional collaboration at a time when disasters increasingly threaten livelihoods, infrastructure and economic stability.

“Effective disaster risk management is not merely a national concern but a fundamental pillar of sustainable development,” Chadzamira said, adding that coordinated regional action was essential in addressing disasters that often transcend national borders.

He reflected on Zimbabwe’s own experiences with major disasters, including the Tugwi-Mukosi floods of 2014 and Cyclone Idai in 2019, saying the tragedies underscored the importance of robust preparedness and response systems.

The Tugwi-Mukosi disaster displaced thousands in Masvingo Province after heavy rains triggered severe flooding downstream of the dam. However, Chadzamira noted that the dam has since become a strategic asset supporting irrigation, water storage and power generation, contributing to agricultural productivity and regional development.

Cyclone Idai, which struck eastern Zimbabwe in March 2019, remains one of the deadliest storms ever recorded in the Southern Hemisphere, leaving a trail of destruction across Manicaland Province. Chadzamira said Zimbabwe’s response highlighted the value of coordinated disaster management backed by regional and international support.

SADC Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Angèle Makombo N’tumba, underscored the importance of strengthening regional preparedness mechanisms.

She said the 2025/26 rainy season had exposed both the region’s vulnerability to disasters and SADC’s growing capacity to coordinate emergency responses.

“The season has demonstrated that SADC is moving from policy intent to operational capability,” she said.

However, N’tumba said more work was needed to improve coordination, strengthen cross-border disaster response systems and enhance regional self-sufficiency in emergency operations.

She urged member states to institutionalise preparedness as a permanent government function, accelerate the operationalisation of SHOC and establish sustainable financing mechanisms for resilience-building initiatives.

N’tumba also called on the region to address underlying drivers of vulnerability, including unplanned urbanisation, climate change, fragile livelihoods and infrastructure deficits.

She further emphasised the importance of harnessing technology and data systems to improve early warning mechanisms and disaster response coordination across borders.

Related