Researcher Fellow: CSDA, University of Johannesburg

Missing the Opportunity? Participation of young people in health centred disaster risk reduction: A

case of Tokwe Mukosi in Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe

DR. EDSON MUNSAKA

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

• Background: Tokwe Mukosi Disaster• Findings• Conclusion

The Background: Tokwe Mukosi Flood Disaster • This paper is derived from: proceedings of the Lessons Learnt Workshop [DCP]

a product of an ongoing qualitative research study on the Tokwe Mukosi Dam Disaster of 2014 in Masvingo Province in Zimbabwe.

• Participants• 30 Young persons: Aged btwn 15 & 24 years old;• 4 NGO staff• 8 Senior Government Officials

Background• The construction of Tokwe Mukosi Dam had been on

cards since 1998• Was intended to provide irrigation and electricity to

communities in the semi-arid southern Masvingo province.

• Areas affected: parts of Chivi, Masvingo Districts, the northern parts of Mwenezi and the western parts of Chiredzi Districts.

• The communities within the basin were to be relocated under a phased relocation plan:

Background: Phased Relocation Plan

Phase 1 – relocate 1 247 families who were deemed to be at level 660m above sea level and would be in danger of flooding by October 2013.

Phase II – relocate 1 878 families who would be affected when dam was expected to fill up by October 2014.

Phase III – relocate 3 268 families in the Buffer Zone, would be moved to protect the dam by October 2015.

• 5-12 year old = 8167 primary school going

• 13-16 yrs old 2295 secondary school going Youth population?

Who was aware of the dam construction?

‘...Young persons knowing about the dam construction? No. Even their parents did not know about the dam construction until towards their relocation’ [Local Government Official 1].

NATURE DEFINING THE PLANNING

• In early February 2014, communities living in the Tokwe Mukosi basin were inundated by the rising water levels at the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam

• The water levels rapidly rose to 671 meters

above sea level on the 3rd of February 2014 threatening communities within its basin.

THE THREAT OF FLOODING

FLOODED HOMESTEAD: CHIVI, 2/2014

Tokwe Mukosi Dam Disaster 2014

• A State of Disaster was declared on 9th February 2014

HELICOPTER ASSISTED EVACUATIONS

THE CHINGWIZI HOLDING CAMP

THE CHINGWIZI CAMP

The Chingwizi Camp

DISASTER SCENE OR CRIME SCENE?

FINDINGS• Tents: ‘On arrival at camp a family would be allocated a tent and other

items...’ [DCP Official]

‘...It has been difficult and hard to imagine myself sharing a tent with my parents.’ [Teenager 1, 17 yrs]

‘I last shared a room with my parents when I was a toddler..., so it was now like being re-configured a toddler...’ [Teenager 2, 15yrs]

• Stress and Traumatic - natural disasters and other crises can trigger or exacerbate historical trauma

• Trauma: prohibits key understanding of what is happening in one’s body

• It has an impact on one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviour.

Findings ‘...as a Ministry, we moved swiftly to set up temporary

schools, including in the camp... but you could note that in addition to students enduring psycho-social problems directly linked to camp life, 18 of the children who were supposed to sit for national Grade 7 Exams in October 2014 failed to so.’ [Official Ministry of Education]

‘...boreholes that have been drilled to save the clinic have yielded little amount of water...

‘Well efforts underway to provide piped water to the clinic and the four schools under-construction...’ [Local Government Official]

Why involve the youths?• Who are the youths?

• Youth participation in disasters helps to – build greater awareness of disaster issues across the

affected communities. – play an essential role in protecting members of the

community in times of impending disasters. – safeguard their futures, investment and expand on hard

earned development gains – build a global culture of safety and resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

• The dam project was fraught with human rights problems

• the government did not [adequately] consult local residents about their needs, or the effect the dam would have on their lives.

• The rapid nature and evolution of the Tokwe Mukosi flood disaster demonstrated the need to review disaster risk management in Zimbabwe, especially in the face of climate change.

• Under estimation of water inflow into Tokwe Mukorsi betrayed the planning process further worsened by inaccurate prediction, and absence of weather technology in the catchment areas

• Generally, despite having the cash [and time] for the physical construction of the dam, money is never planned for the social concerns or costs of the dam

• WHAT IS THE WAY FORWARD?

Youths: ‘Don’t Decide My Future Without Me’

Conceptualising Participation ‘Ladder of Citizen participation’ (Arnstein, 1969) ‘Typology of community participation’ (Pretty, 1995) ‘Youths’ Context : legally or politically defined?

• There is also need for more systematic processes to engage children and youth(s) as key stakeholders in HCDRR and to build their resilience into development agendas.

WHY NOT JOIN US?

12-13 OCTOBER, 2016 SASDiR CONFERENCE, ELEPHANT HILLS, VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE

Positioning Southern Africa for Disaster Risk Reduction

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