‘Robust legislation key for effective disaster management’
Sunday Mail Reporter ZIMBABWE will continuously review legislation, incorporate gender perspectives and ensure adequate resource allocation to enhance its disaster preparedness and response efforts, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda has said.
The country has developed a comprehensive legal framework for disaster risk management, governed primarily by the Civil Protection Act (Chapter 10:06).
Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo were recently affected by natural disasters.
Addressing the 54th SADC Parliamentary Forum Plenary Assembly session on the role of parliaments in promoting coordination for enhanced disaster risk reduction and recovery planning in the SADC region, Advocate Mudenda highlighted the country’s commitment to improving disaster management by strengthening legal frameworks.
“To that end, Zimbabwe has developed a legal framework for disaster risk management, governed mainly by the Civil Protection Act, and Section 56 of the Zimbabwe Constitution, which provides for equal protection and benefit of the law,” he said.
Advocate Mudenda said the Civil Protection Act is being updated to better respond to increasing climate-induced disasters affecting the country.
“In conformity with the need to domesticate the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-2030), the Parliament of Zimbabwe is in the process of reviewing the Civil Protection Act, given that it was enacted in 1989 and is no longer responsive enough to the obtaining climate-induced disasters,” he said.
Additionally, he added, Government has drafted the Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Management Bill, which is currently under consideration by Parliament.
The new Bill aligns with regional practices and mainstreams gender issues, the needs of persons with disabilities, child rights, and sexual and reproductive health rights in national disaster responses.
“As an institution responsible for the national budget and resource allocation, the Parliament of Zimbabwe has ensured that adequate funds are allocated towards disaster funds.
“These include the Road Traffic Fund, to cater for traffic disasters arising from catastrophic road accidents, and the Mining Disaster Fund for mining disasters,” said Advocate Mudenda.
He also said the Quelea Control Act (Chapter 19:10) of 1972, as amended in 2001, and the Meteorological Services Act (13:21) play crucial roles in providing data and information for disaster risk reduction efforts.
Zimbabwe has also put in place other laws to address different aspects of disaster management.
The Parks and Wild Life Act (Chapter 20:14), aims to manage natural disasters and curtail human-wildlife conflicts within national parks.
The recently amended Forest Act (Chapter 19:05) capacitates the country to effectively combat devastating veld fires that pose threats to its flora and fauna.
Advocate Mudenda also called for a regional approach to managing epic disasters in the SADC region.