On the 4th of March 2019, Southern Africa woke up to the heart-wrenching news of a tropical cyclone that had devastated parts of Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi. More than 1000 people perished in the cyclone whilst hundreds were missing as they were washed downstream. According to some preliminary reports there are more than 110 000 people now living in makeshift camps and are now surviving on donations for food, medication and clothing. Amidst this problem, what really broke my heart was a whole town that was wiped away by the cyclone. Only boulders and soil replaced a once vibrant town in the Chimanimani area. Almost all the inhabitants of that town perished in the cyclone. In other areas houses were totally submerged in water. The question that came to my mind was: What role do rural and urban planners play in mitigating or avoiding the loss of human lives, livestock and infrastructure in the face of natural disasters? I personally think that rural-urban planners should do more than just pegging land for residential and commercial purposes. They should work together with engineers, meteorological experts and the local area leadership to come up with sustainable land planning. Also resettling or settling people should not be left solely in the hands of the municipality or rural district council leaders because in their quest for expansion or raising money through property tax, they may overlook the possible dangers that may befall the inhabitants of certain geographical areas. They may even settle people in low-lying areas prone to landslides and flooding. There is need to first research into the nexus between the geographical area and its proneness to natural disasters and the mitigation measures in the event that disaster strikes.
By Precious Chinanga
March 26, 2019
