Abstract
The increasing occurrence of disastrous flooding events and the mounting losses in both life and property values in Zimbabwe have drawn attention to the flooding situation in the country, especially the rural areas. This article explores the resilience of vulnerable rural communities to flood risks associated within increasingly frequent and severe events linked to climate change. Starting by reviewing the current literature on rural livelihoods, resilience and vulnerability research, the paper argues for a coordinated teamwork approach in flood risk mitigation in rural areas. The paper concludes with several recommendations for enhanced resilience to flood hazards.
Highlights
This paper advocates the capacity building of rural communities against negative flood impact through livelihood resilience building and proposes a set of resilience strategies to mitigate the negative impacts
The main question of the study is: what resilience options for flood risk reduction exist in rural areas? This question is answered by developing linkages between livelihoods, vulnerability and resilience building
This paper attempted to assess some of the existing disaster literature on issues surrounding livelihood and resilience of communities under flood risk in Zimbabwe
Summary
This paper advocates the capacity building of rural communities against negative flood impact through livelihood resilience building and proposes a set of resilience strategies to mitigate the negative impacts. The question of how vulnerable communities, dependent on natural resources, can increase their resilience to flood hazard shocks, stresses, and crises is central to the argument. Resilience strategies in the context of the capacity building of marginalised rural communities in different aspects of resilience are advocated. It is the marginalized groups that suffer most when floods strike (Madamombe, 2004; Gumbo, 2004; Vlachos, 1995). The main question of the study is: what resilience options for flood risk reduction exist in rural areas? This question is answered by developing linkages between livelihoods, vulnerability and resilience building. Linking rural community livelihoods to resilience building in flood risk reduction in Zimbabwe
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
