Harare, (New Ziana) – President Emmerson Mnangagwa said on Monday it is imperative to scale up the implementation of bold actions to mitigate the effects of climate change-induced disasters as well as to build robust adaptation measures and long-term resilience.
He was addressing a virtual extraordinary summit of Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government on the El-Nino-induced drought.
President Mnangagwa said as agriculture was the anchor of economies in the region, it entails that investments in sustainable agricultural practices and food systems are critical priority areas.
“Focus must remain on increasing our capacities to produce adequate food to feed our people, in spite of climate change. The need to enhance water harvesting infrastructure, invest in efficient irrigation systems and speed up the Regional Fertilizer Programme, cannot be over-emphasized.
“Supporting vulnerable communities in adapting to the ever-changing climate is equally important. Hence aspects related to de-risking children and women against malnutrition, due to sporadic weather patterns, should see us promote responsive nutrition interventions including the cultivation of drought-resistant grains,” he said.
He revealed to his counterparts that the Zimbabwe government has adopted a wheat-based food security matrix, which taps into the comparative and competitive advantage in growing wheat during winter.
President Mnangagwa added that the government will continue investing in science, technology, and extensive mechanization, while improving seed varieties will also continue to be pursued.
Climate change early warning systems and a raft of other measures are in place, with the complementary effort of development partners, he said.
President Mnangagwa commended the region’s coordinated approach in the management and response to the El Nino drought.
“It is critically important that we not only sharpen and strengthen our long-term strategies, but that we also embed our strategies within our institutions and local communities, towards mitigating the adverse negative effects of climate change in a more sustainable way.
“Further, we must expedite the operationalization of the SADC Humanitarian Operations Center, to facilitate the efficient coordination of our regional disaster risk reduction, response and recovery programs,” he said.
SADC chairperson Angolan President Joao Laurenco chaired the virtual meeting, which ended with a Regional Drought Relief Appeal of US$5.5 billion to cover both drought and floods, and to build resilience in communities.
Zimbabwe, alongside Zambia and Malawi, has already launched its own.
Over 61 million people throughout the SADC region are affected by the El Niño-induced drought.
The virtual Summit also condemned the attempted coup in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and upheld the continent-wide commitment to constitutionalism and lawful change of power.
New Ziana
