Disability and disaster risk reduction as an incongruent matrix: Lessons from rural Zimbabwe

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Main Authors: Wilfred Lunga, Paradzayi Pathias Bongo, Dewald van Niekerk, Charles Musarurwa
Other Authors: nit for Environmental Sciences and Management, African Centre for Disaster Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Format: research article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS (Pty) Ltd. 2023
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Online Access:https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5490
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author Wilfred Lunga
Paradzayi Pathias Bongo
Dewald van Niekerk
Charles Musarurwa
author2 nit for Environmental Sciences and Management, African Centre for Disaster Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
author_facet nit for Environmental Sciences and Management, African Centre for Disaster Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
Wilfred Lunga
Paradzayi Pathias Bongo
Dewald van Niekerk
Charles Musarurwa
author_sort Wilfred Lunga
collection DSpace
description Abstract
format research article
id ir-11408-5490
institution My University
language English
publishDate 2023
publisher AOSIS (Pty) Ltd.
record_format dspace
spelling ir-11408-54902023-03-29T06:44:49Z Disability and disaster risk reduction as an incongruent matrix: Lessons from rural Zimbabwe Wilfred Lunga Paradzayi Pathias Bongo Dewald van Niekerk Charles Musarurwa nit for Environmental Sciences and Management, African Centre for Disaster Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa Faculty of Social and Gender Transformative Sciences, Women’s University in Africa, Harare, Zimbabwe Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, African Centre for Disaster Studies, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa Department of Applied Education, Faculty of Education, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe disability disaster risk reduction disaster vulnerability Zimbabwe Abstract The policy thrust of disaster risk reduction initiatives is in many instances tailored towards able-bodied people. This is at the expense of those challenged in many facets such as physically, mentally and other forms of disability. The suggestion for disability to be mainstreamed into disaster risk reduction initiatives has been made imperative by the late shift in hazard and disaster thinking at local, national and international levels. The increasing intensity and frequency of weather-related hazards and disasters, driven by climate change, has provided fertile ground on which mainstreaming ideas and policies have proved to be incongruent. This research paper focuses on two key topics in the disaster science field: pre-disaster risk reduction planning and post-disaster emergency response activities. It is based on experiences from disaster risk reduction projects in Bulilima and Mangwe districts in southern Zimbabwe between 2006 and 2014. A qualitative research methodology was employed, and data were collected using in-depth personal interviews, observations and focus group discussions. Both able-bodied people and people living with disabilities (PWDs) were part of the study. Main findings show that PWDs were not included in the formulation of disaster risk reduction measures. Other important findings were the variable nature of how people define or view disability, and even believe that disability has a purpose. Most of the so-called normal people lack the understanding of what constitutes a disaster to such an extent that even disability is regarded as a disaster. The paper unravels the need to have a relook that would bring PWDs into the centre of civil protection decision-making and policy formulation in Zimbabwe. 11 1 1 7 2023-03-29T06:44:48Z 2023-03-29T06:44:48Z 2019-04-06 research article https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5490 doi: 10.4102/jamba.v11i1.648 en Jàmbá: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies 2072-845X open AOSIS (Pty) Ltd.
spellingShingle disability
disaster risk reduction
disaster
vulnerability
Zimbabwe
Wilfred Lunga
Paradzayi Pathias Bongo
Dewald van Niekerk
Charles Musarurwa
Disability and disaster risk reduction as an incongruent matrix: Lessons from rural Zimbabwe
title Disability and disaster risk reduction as an incongruent matrix: Lessons from rural Zimbabwe
title_full Disability and disaster risk reduction as an incongruent matrix: Lessons from rural Zimbabwe
title_fullStr Disability and disaster risk reduction as an incongruent matrix: Lessons from rural Zimbabwe
title_full_unstemmed Disability and disaster risk reduction as an incongruent matrix: Lessons from rural Zimbabwe
title_short Disability and disaster risk reduction as an incongruent matrix: Lessons from rural Zimbabwe
title_sort disability and disaster risk reduction as an incongruent matrix: lessons from rural zimbabwe
topic disability
disaster risk reduction
disaster
vulnerability
Zimbabwe
url https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/5490
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AT paradzayipathiasbongo disabilityanddisasterriskreductionasanincongruentmatrixlessonsfromruralzimbabwe
AT dewaldvanniekerk disabilityanddisasterriskreductionasanincongruentmatrixlessonsfromruralzimbabwe
AT charlesmusarurwa disabilityanddisasterriskreductionasanincongruentmatrixlessonsfromruralzimbabwe