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ZIMBABWEANS eagerly await the onset of the rainy season every year. For most, the rains are a sign of blessings and better things to come.However, in some cases the rains spell disaster, especially for those settled in low-lying flood prone areas.

The bane of floods and subsequent poor disaster management which often leads to loss of lives and destruction of infrastructure is common particularly in the low-lying flood prone regions.

Nearly every year the country is swamped by reports of massive floods leaving a trail of destruction. Most of the time people are left with a lot of questions on the country’s disaster preparedness with experts calling on the government to come up with lasting solutions for reducing such disasters.

Heavy rains that pounded parts of the country recently left a trail of destruction and resulted in loss of lives. Most of the low-lying areas of the country have been hit by serious floods with more than 10 people reported killed and more than 2,000 families displaced.

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Dr Ignatius Chombo described the flood disasters as the “worst in many years” .

According to a Zimbabwe Red Cross Society recent report, households in areas including Mbire, Mukumbura, Muzarabani, Zvimba and parts of Mashonaland Central and East Provinces were submerged in water leaving many of the occupants homeless. In Chiredzi, 32 houses in the Malipati area were damaged.

The floods presented a number of key lessons not only on how to respond to an emergency in a better manner, but also on how necessary it is for local communities to have the relevant knowledge on disaster management skills in order for them to be better  prepared  for a new round of disaster.

Cuthbert Ncube, a tutor at the Centre for Development and Disaster Management Studies in Bulawayo, said the provision of emergency services is not the only solution to avert such disasters for most of the people living in the flood prone areas, but instead the government should come up with a permanent solution of assisting these people.

“It’s now common knowledge that low lying areas every year experience flash floods and this is no longer a problem which should be corrected through the engagement of different NGOs among other humanitarian organisations for the provisions of temporary emergency services every year. There is need to seek for a permanent solution for the people living in those flood-prone areas. At best, the people need to relocated or building them stronger structures which can withstand such disasters to avoid loss of lives and properties everytime,” said Ncube.

For those living in these low-lying flood prone areas such as Tsholotsho, Gokwe and Muzarabani, disasters caused by floods have almost become permanent features on their climate calendars.

Chief Mtshina of the San community in Tsholotsho said they always encounter difficulties when flash floods hit their community every year, but with no solution in sight except only for the temporary emergency services measures provided by humanitarian organisations.

“At the moment we haven’t been hit by the flash floods but we believe the disaster is imminent and there is no solution in sight in terms of preparedness. Last year we were promised by a humanitarian organisation and the government that they would build stronger permanent structures but nothing materialised. We hope for a permanent solution to our problems. Promises have become the norm. We don’t want to be perennial charity case every year,” lamented Chief Mtshina.

The Civil Protection Unit – the country’s disaster management agency – said it was ready for any eventuality with district civil protection committees around the country ready to respond to emergencies.

“We’re on high alert and we urge communities in flood prone areas to be on high alert and to move on higher ground in the event of any eventualities. Our team is working with district committees and communities in various provinces to make sure that no lives are lost,” said Madzudzo Pawadyira, the Civil Protection Unit Director.

Pawadyira said it was important for people to listen to warnings and generally observe rainfall activity and move to higher ground or move to any safer place if there is any possibility of flash floods and thunderstorms which might destroy their homes.

The torrential rains and subsequent flooding have also caused massive damage to agriculture by destroying crops and killing livestock. Public services and infrastructure such as roads and bridges have also been adversely affected. Bridges have been washed away while roads have been rendered impassable by the rains.

Chief Shana of Hwange said floods preparedness is very essential and more resources should be put in place to avoid further loss of life through floods.

“Proactive measures are necessary to avoid the loss of life and properties through floods. We believe that more resources should be channelled to most of the flood prone areas to avoid loss of lives,” said Chief Shana.

An educationist who declined to be named citing professional reasons said every time during the rain season, schools in the flood prone areas were temporarily closed while other schools register a low turn out because of the possibility of people failing to cross flooded rivers and bridges.

“During this time of the year some schools will be closed for the better part of the rain season with some pupils camping at schools until the rainy season is over. The disaster preparedness should go beyond educational campaigns and training. School children need to be supported with enough resources to mitigate flood related problems. A stitch in time saves nine,” he said.

Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) Matabeleland North provincial programmes officer Thembelihle Valo said assisting the flood victims was part of the organisation’s mandate to complement the government’s efforts in humanitarian assistance.

“We always complement the government’s effort in assisting affected communities living in flood prone areas, we don’t want these natural disasters to result in loss of lives. We always try our best to help the affected people with food, clothes and temporary shelter among other things in times of floods. We hope through working together with the government and other stakeholders, a permanent solution will be put in place to avoid loss lives and property,” said Valo.

Experts noted that the siltation of most major rivers in the country is responsible for the increase in flooding since the smaller rivers burst their banks when the larger ones are full. The increase in the river bank settlement, especially in dry regions, is proving a nightmare for the authorities.

During the 2013/2014 rainfall season severe weather events caused flooding in several Southern African countries, with almost all affected by flooding. Nine tropical cyclones were recorded during the season, compared to the seasonal average of 10, of which three made landfall. A total of 383,256 people were affected and 117 deaths were reported.