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Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Management and Flood Preparedness Meeting:

Beitbridge District, Peter’s Motel, 28 – 30 November 2017

Introduction
Disaster risk management and flood preparedness meetings for communities living in flood
prone areas have traditionally excluded people with hearing impairments. TheDepartment of
Civil Protection, in collaboration with the Association of the Deaf, Deaf Voice of Zimbabwe,
Sunrise Sign Language with support from Save the Children conducted the first ever
workshop for deaf people in Beitbridge on 28 to 30 November 2017. The workshop was
conducted against a backdrop of the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster
Risk Reduction (2015 – 2030) which advocates for an all inclusive disaster risk management
approach. A locally based sign language interpreter from Sunrise Sign Language has
estimated the number of deaf people to be between 50 up to 100 persons. The district Social
Welfare Office does not have database of this population.The country’s deaf population is
estimated at 500 000.

Overall aim
To promote optimal emergency preparedness planning for people with hearing impairments
in Beitbridge.

Objectives
To raise awareness on prevailing hazards in Beitbridge District
To disseminate the 2017/2018 seasonal forecast and implications for disaster risk reduction.
To create a database for people with hearing impairments in Beitbridge District

Outputs
 Revised information, education and communication materials for people with hearing
impairments in Beitbridge
 A database for people with hearing impairments in Beitbridge.

Participants
The workshop was attended by 58 (fifty-eight) participants, 28 (twenty-eight) males and 30
(thirty) females from Beitbridge District as well as pupils from the local primary school.
Facilitators were drawn from the Department of Civil Protection, Provincial Administrator’s
office, Provincial Meteorological Services Office, Ministry of Health, Department of Social
Welfare, District Administrator’s Office and Sign Language Translators from Harare.

WORK PROCEDURE
Day 1 : 28 November 2017
Preparatory Meeting
The day was dedicated to finalization of mobilization of the deaf participants and review of
the presentations with assistance from the sign language interpreters. The meeting was
attended by the District Administrator, all facilitators from the national and provincial levels
and one from the district. The facilitators were informed of details as follows:
 people with hearing impairments have a short concentration span, hence the need to
make brief presentations with visual aids as they learn better from pictorials
 they do not like monotony and also love participatory approaches
 most people with hearing impairments do not hail from Beitbridge; they stay in this
border town in order to earn a living as money changers and also perform other

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 menial jobs for cross border traders. Such tasks are easy to undertake as most
employers shun deaf people due to lack of knowledge on sign language
 people with hearing impairments always expect a monetary incentive when invited to
a workshop due to the disruption of their income generating activities.

Day 2 : 29 November 2017

WORKSHOP PROCEEDINGS
Welcome Remarks :Office of District Administrator Beitbridge
Mr Mugodzwa pointed out that the meeting will deliberate on various issues related to
hazards as the district is mostly prone to floods, strong winds and malaria.He highlighted that
‘disability does not mean inability’ hence all human beings are the same.

Expectations
The participants highlighted the following expectations:
 TV adverts are not comprehensive as there is no use of sign language hence the need
to include sign language on all TV programs
 Understand disaster management terms
 Use of simple English

Disaster Risk Terminology :Department of Civil Protection

Key disaster risk management terms discussed were: civil protection, hazard, vulnerability,
disaster, emergency, capacity, prevention, mitigation, preparedness, public awareness, early
warning, disaster response, rehabilitation, recovery, resilience and disaster risk management

Global Disaster Risk ReductionEfforts :Department of Civil Protection

Discussions centred on the four priority actions of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk
Reduction (2015 – 2030) as follows:
Priority 1 :Understanding disaster risk.
Priority 2 :Strengthening disaster risk governanceto manage disaster risk.
Priority 3 :Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience.
Priority 4 :Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build Back
Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

Hazard profile of Zimbabwe:Department of Civil Protection

The presentation highlighted the hazards common in Zimbabwe which were classified as
hydro-meteorological, technological, biological and geo-physical hazards. The country has
experienced flooding in low lying areas whilst drought is common in regions four and five
because of low rainfall received in these regions. Geo-physical hazards have become very
common for the past three years and the affected areas mentioned during the presentation
were Domboshava in Mashonaland Central and Bikita where four people died from landslide.
Earth quake tremors have become very common in the country and this compels citizens to
be vigilant and prepare for such occurrences.

Meteorological Hazards in Beitbridge: Provincial Meteorologist

The Provincial Meteorologist presented on the changing weather caused by climate
variability and emphasised that climate change is real. The presentation highlighted that the
2017/2018 rainfall season was expected to be normal to above normal. Therefore, the hazards

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that the district will encounter were listed as severe tropical cyclones, thunderstorms, floods,
flash floods, hail, strong winds heat waves and drought among others. People were
encouraged to check for updates from weather report.

Extent of the Flood Problem in Zimbabwe: Department of Civil Protection

The presentation revealed that the development of a national flood plain management
framework came about as a result of the lessons gleaned from TokweMurkosi dam flood
disaster of February 2014 and other flooding incidents that occurred in the past years. In
2015, the Department of Civil Protection under the auspices of United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) embarked on a project to bankroll the development of the National
Flood Plain Management Framework. The first step was to define the problem of flooding
and a consultant was hired to carry out the study. The consultant undertook a systematic
study of flood hazard in Zimbabwe determining populations, ecosystems and infrastructure at
risk. Findings from the systematic study by the consultant showed that Gwayi has the largest
share of extreme flood hazard followed by Sanyati, Mzingwane and Manyame respectively.
Moreso, in Runde, Save and Mazowe, there are also areas with extreme flood hazard. In
addition, the presentation pointed out that about 4% of the landmass in Zimbabwe is at risk of
extreme flooding events with 10 year return period. These areas are less than 3m above
channel base and about 92% of landmass is safe from flooding.

However due to the listening span and concentration of the workshop audience more videos
and pictorial illustrations were used to draw their attention. The presentation drew full
participation and concentration.

Health Risks During the Rainfall Season: Ministry of Health and Child Care
The official from the Ministry of Health and Child Carehighlighted that floods are the most
common hazard that cause loss of life throughout the world. The immediate impacts of floods
include drowning and injuries. Other risks associated with the rainfall season in Beitbridge
are cholera, typhoid, dysentery, scabies and malaria among others.

Day 3: 30 November 2017

A recap exercise preceded the deliberations of the day.

Protection Issues for Children and Older Persons in Emergencies :Social Welfare
Department
Child protection was defined as a combination of services that are provided to a child who
has been identified as in need of care.
 Challenges experienced by children and older persons before emergencies were
discussed as follows: neglect, exclusion from decision making processes, child abuse,
food insecurity, homelessness and prone to diseases due to weak immune systems.
 Challenges during emergencies – examples discussed were: shelter, poor sanitation,
communicable diseases, neglect, injuries, deaths, food insecurity, loss of guardians or
parents and trauma among others.
 Challenges after emergencies – examples highlighted were: food, shelter, medication,
clothing, psychosocial support, custody issues and loss of birth certificates.

Role of Social Welfare Department and Partners

Programmes being implemented to address the needs of children and older persons include
drought relief programme, public assistance, committals of children to places of safety,

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emergency fund, transport voucher system, case conferences, probation services for instance
on children in conflict and contact with the law-custody cases, foster care, adoption and
institutionalisation among others.

Water Safety :Zimbabwe Republic Police Sub Aqua

The presentation centred on causes of drowning and prevention measures including steps to
take before, during and after a flood emergency as follows:
 Before a flood event – the local flood history should be established including high
ground for a safe haven
 During a flood emergency – the affected population should have emergency kits for
food provisions, crucial non food items including medical supplies as well as get
updates on the weather conditions from the electronic and print media and other
authorities
 After a flood emergency –affected families should ensure homes are habitable by
effecting repairs, cleaning same and monitoring the health of their families.

First Aid :Zimbabwe Red Cross Society

The demonstrations included management of unconscious drowned victims, choking,
bandaging wounds, fractures, snake bites and scorpion bites. Emphasis was put on referring
casualties to health centres.

Humanitarian Principles
A video on humanitarian principles was flighted.

Role of Save the Children in Disaster Risk Reduction: Save the Children
The Head of Disaster Risk Reduction from Save the Children informed the meeting that Save
the Children is an international Non- Governmental Organisation which works with different
Ministries to ensure the needs of the children are met and addressed. By 2030 the
organisation will ensure that children are safe in pursuance of their vision. They sponsored
disaster risk management and awareness workshop for the deaf in support of the Department
of Civil Protection programs. The organisation aims to improve the learning environment for
children and this is achieved through supporting the Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education programs. They also advocate influencing the changes in school curriculum so that
it is all inclusive whilst promoting DRR in all school programs.
Save the Children is operating in four provinces and in each province the organisation
targeted two districts and twenty schools. They also ensure that all school going children are
safe through their advocacy for a safe environment.

Way forward
tem
Database for all people with
special needs according to
their impairment
Produce DRM education
material in Braille for the
blind
Responsibility/By Whom By When/ Timeframe
DA’s Office, MoPSE- SPS, 1st quarter of 2018
Social Welfare, Local
leadership and people living
disability
DCP, Ongoing
Save the Children, other
partners, Dorothy Duncan

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Reach out to ward and
village level
Review of information,
education and
communication materials
Organise and come up with
Council for the Blind in the
District
To conduct First Aid training
in schools and reach out to
all other people with special
needs
DCPC and Save the Children 1st quarter of 2018
DCP, Specialist Teachers 1st quarter 0f 2018
and Interpreters
DA, A week from now
Interpreters,
Specialist Teachers and
Partners
Zimbabwe Red Cross Society Ongoing
and specialists

Recommendations
a) All ZTV programmes should include sign language translation i.e. adverts and other
programmes
b) Early warning information to include WhatsApp videos in sign language
c) Mobilisation of resources for persons with special needs
d) Department of Civil Protection should revise the IEC materials with consultations
from the specialists/experts including charts/fliers DVDs with pictures in simple
English.
e) DA Beitbridge to ensure DRM programs incorporate persons with special needs and
also involve them in planning for their programs and welfare.
f) Deaf teachers to teach deaf pupils
g) The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to ensure that the curriculum is all
inclusiveof persons with special needs especially the deaf and dumb.
 The reading materials as well as the exams should be in simple English that is
understood by the deaf family. Most of the deaf pupils fail because they do not
understand the current textbooks which have long sentences and jargon.

Vote of Thanks :Office of District Administrator

Mr Mugodzwa expressed appreciation for the time devoted to the workshop as well as the
sharing of experiences in disaster risk reduction.Communities living with the flood risk were
cited as wards 11 and 15 among others. The officer highlighted that disaster risk reduction
education materials (flyers) should use simple English in order to be understood by people
with hearing impairments. Furthermore, the officer reiterated that learners, teachers, parents,
families, older people and the Government have a role to play in disaster risk management.
Government efforts were complemented by development partners namely Save the Children.
The officer pointed out that there was need for more of such workshops in the districtso that
stakeholders keep abreast of new trends, for instance in climate information. Gratitude was
also extended to the sponsor of the workshop, Save the Children.

The meeting was declared closed and prayer marked the end of the meeting.