Climate Change An Annual Experience For Zimbabwe and Other Countries In The Region.

By Shingirai Vambe

In one week Zimbabwe experienced 2 shifts associated with climate change living no doubt but everyone in fear of their lives as storm hit the Eastern region while the plates in the South region make some movements.

For the first time an earthquake was experienced in Bulawayo and Matebeleland South Tuesday night at around 21:35hrs with a magnitude of 3.9.

The Meteorological Services Department confirmed the incident and it most likely occurred in some parts of the neighbouring countries with South African National Seismography Network confirming that the earthquake had a 10km depth.

While this was happening in the South region of Zimbabwe, Houses and crops were being taken away by whirlwinds, and mudslides in the Eastern region of the country during a tropical storm called Tropical Cyclone Ana, that was coming from Madagascar.

Cyclone Ana left a trail of destruction in Manicaland and Masvingo province was not spared.

Earthquakes, based on the science have no direct link with climate change. Communities in different parts of the country are being hit by forces of nature that seem beyond their control.

There is little humans can do to stop Earthquakes but climate change, yes, something can be done. There is a lot communities and government can do to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate.

The  Zimbabwe revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) clearly out-line gaps and measures the country will pursue in meeting the mitigation target of reducing emissions by 40% per capita by 2030. The NDC has an adaptation component in which the country will strengthen early warning systems and build resilience of communities.

Zimbabwe seeks a collaborative approach in fighting climate change through adoption of climate smart agriculture practices, prohibiting development in ecologically-fragile areas, strengthening policy and institutional frameworks, resource mobilization and collaborating with other nations in pursuing the climate change agenda.

All these deadly events are associated with climate change and they have long term effects to the day to day living of people on earth.

Earthquakes are caused by sudden tectonic movements in the Earth’s crust. The main cause is that when tectonic plates, one rides over the other, causing orogeny collide, earthquakes. The largest fault surfaces on Earth are formed due to boundaries between moving plates.

When an earthquake occur, weak building infrastructure is destroyed or damaged the same when a Cyclone occurs.

Experts have associated these weather disasters as natural change in weather patterns while others say are human induced through land degradation, pollution and continuous depletion of the ozone layer.

In view of these ascertations, the Zimbabwe Climate Change Management Department has moved in the country’s 10 provinces, educating people mostly leaders on the changes in these weather patterns, the mitigation and adaptation paths to take.

Of late, Zimbabwe used not to experience such weather phenomenons expect for droughts which usually occur after every 10 years but no longer the case now. Currently year after year the country experiences related problems resulting in either hunger or destruction of infrastructure and death of innocent civilians.

The government should support efforts to build a resilient nation. Funding should be channelled towards education and awareness campaigns focusing on climate change, bearing in mind that “an educated/informed nation is an empowered nation.”