An Investigation into the effectiveness of climate-related policies on disaster preparedness and response in Zimbabwe. The Case of Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani District.

Abstract

This study investigates the efficacy of climate-related policies on disaster preparedness and response in Zimbabwe, concentrating specifically on the Chimanimani District during Cyclone Idai. This study is philosophically based on constructivist ontology, interpretive epistemology, and a qualitative methodology. The research focused on participants who have substantial or direct knowledge of the area under study. Using purposive and snowball sampling techniques, the study gathered a sample of 35 participants. Semi-structured interviews served as the main instrument for data collection. The research employed thematic analysis to interpret the data, which involved identifying patterns and themes. To validate the findings, the study used methodological triangulation, literature review, and theoretical frameworks, which broadened the understanding of the subject and offered a more thorough analysis of the research question/s. The theoretical framework was based on five approaches, including the Capability Approach and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. The results revealed that Zimbabwe's policy framework, particularly the Civil Protect Act, concerning disaster preparedness and response, is centralized, vague, and covers a wide scope. Consequently, it fails to prioritize preparedness and response strategies adequately. The study also discovered that the policy framework relating to disaster preparedness in Zimbabwe does not adequately address the issue, focusing instead on disaster response, albeit insufficiently, and lacks clear provisions to support a robust response strategy. Nonetheless, the study found that the current policy framework, while not entirely sufficient to be deemed effective, does offer a rudimentary guide to disaster preparedness and response, and lays a foundation for the development of a more inclusive and robust policy framework in Zimbabwe. For short-term improvement, the study suggests amending the Civil Protection Act to include provisions that ensure policy framework effectiveness in disaster management and disaster risk reduction. In the longer term, the study recommends a careful review of the Climate Change Bill before its passage to avoid carrying forward the vulnerabilities found in the Civil Protection Act.