Closing the Gaps in Disaster Management and Response: Drawing on Local Experiences with Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani, Zimbabwe

Nelson Chanza,Vusomuzi B Sithole,Pakama Q Siyongwana,Veronica Gundu-Jakarasi,Chipo Mudavanhu,Leizel Williams-Bruinders,Albert Manyani

doi:10.1007/s13753-020-00290-x

Abstract

Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe exposed deficiencies in the country’s disaster management system. This study uses a phenomenological case exploration of the experiences of local residents in Rusitu Valley following cyclone-induced floods that affected the area in March 2019. Through capturing narratives of participants who were recruited through chain referrals, the research intends to understand how local actors, utilizing their local-based response systems, managed to fill in the voids that characterize disaster management practice in Zimbabwe. Results show that the participation of local “heroes” and “Samaritans,” by deploying their social networks, norms, relationships, practices, and modest ingenuity, helped to speed up response times and minimize threats to lives and livelihoods. Documentation of the stories of local actors about their disaster experiences also gives a richer picture of the Cyclone Idai disaster. Although the community response system also facilitated the operation of external disaster management agencies, their premature withdrawal tended to weaken the trust and values existing in the area, and created tensions between the disaster-affected people and other villagers. Given the delays in formal responses by the government and other external relief agencies, the practices of local actors, although spontaneous and largely uncoordinated, offer rich insights into the design and development of disaster management regimes.

Highlights

In Zimbabwe, the past two decades have been punctuated by a series of cyclones, which have left serious impacts in the entire socioeconomic system
The community response system facilitated the operation of external disaster management agencies, their premature withdrawal tended to weaken the trust and values existing in the area, and created tensions between the disaster-affected people & Nelson Chanza nchanza@gmail.com
Participants were categorized as survivors and helpers during the flood; the study refers to the latter group as ‘‘heroes’’—a term used by the local villagers to describe the challenging role played by these people during the cyclone. ‘‘Community Samaritans’’ was adopted to describe the nature of help they offered to the survivors, including the homeless, by a specific category of community members

Summary

Introduction

In Zimbabwe, the past two decades have been punctuated by a series of cyclones, which have left serious impacts in the entire socioeconomic system These events can be chronicled from the 2000 Cyclone Eline that caused 91 deaths, 357 injuries, destroyed 59,187 houses, and resulted in about 2.7 million people being affected (Brown et al 2012). The state disaster management officials and other external support services only managed to access Rusitu Valley on 20 March 2019 This means there was a five-day period in which local action is undocumented, but of significance. It is from this background that this study collected local narratives of participants who experienced the Cyclone Idai disaster at Kopa Growth Point in Rusitu. The purpose of this information collection effort was to gather evidence on the role of local action in disaster responses, which can help frame the role of local participation in disaster management systems

Results

Discussion

Conclusion