By Virginia Njovo
The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Climate says citizens should take advantage of the current Climate Management bill to include various strategies that combat climate change, among them climate-proof infrastructure.
Director of Climate Change Management in the ministry, Washington Zhakata, said it is high time the country adopts construction of climate proof infrastructure.
Speaking during a stakeholder consultation meeting for the gazetting of the Climate Change Management bill in Masvingo at Flamboyant Hotel on June 28, 2024, Zhakata said it was essential to consider various strategies when constructing homes saying factors such as building design, roofing, insulation, external walls, doors, windows, and foundations play a crucial role in creating robust structures resilient to prevailing climate conditions.
“It is essential for home owners to invest in their homes from the initial stages of planning so as to have stronger structures which can withstand these climatic conditions be it heavy storms or excessive heat,” said Zhakata.
“Chiredzi and some other parts of Matabeleland experienced high temperatures over the past days, it seems currently every corner of the country is experiencing high temperatures, every individual must take action adapting to climate proof buildings,” he added.
Stakeholders at the meeting emphasized the importance of inclusive representation on the management board to ensure adequate consideration of diverse perspectives and concerns.
“We expect inclusivity in the board, where people with disabilities and women as well as leaders from the local authorities are also involved in the decision making processes, “said one of the stakeholders.
The stakeholders further said they hoped to benefit from climate change projects such as irrigation rather than just being evicted from their ancestral homes.
“We expect to benefit from the projects rather than being chased away from our home lands in the name of a project as we see happening in other places, we have seen several evictions in the province,” said another stakeholder.
Zhakata stressed the importance of Zimbabwe as a nation transitioning towards climate-resilient infrastructure, especially in the construction of bridges to withstand floods.
Due to poorly constructed infrastructure, Bikita, Chivi, and Gutu districts in Masvingo Province have suffered consequences of heavy rains and storms, resulting in homelessness and damage to educational facilities and supplies.
