BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Thulisile Dladla has attended the Committee of Ministers responsible for Disaster Risk Management (DRM) from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
According to information from the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO), the meeting took place from Wednesday (November 27, 2024) to yesterday (Thursday, November 28, 2024).
This ministerial meeting follows the SADC Senior Officials’ meeting on DRM, which took place on the 25th and 26th of November 2024. The ministers have been reviewing the progress of regional disaster management activities and programs that aim to enhance the region’s disaster preparedness and response capabilities.
They also deliberated on the operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) to effectively deploy emergency response teams to assist member states impacted by disasters. The meeting concluded with a roundtable discussion on the worsening food security situation and the effects of the 2023/2024 El Niño-induced drought in Southern Africa.
The roundtable aimed to encourage collaboration with development partners and stakeholders to shift from emergency aid to sustainable support and resilience building. This initiative aimed to bolster the efforts of SADC and national governments in reducing humanitarian needs and fostering the long-term resilience and development of communities and national systems.
This meeting is part of SADC’s continued commitment to improving disaster risk management systems across the region, with a focus on reducing vulnerability, enhancing regional cooperation, and ensuring effective humanitarian responses in times of crisis.
The ministerial delegation included Disaster Manager Zandile Mavuso, Commodity and Logistics Manager Nosizo Mthupha, and National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA’s) Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Bonkhe Mchobokazi.
According to the SADC website, the meeting was officially opened and chaired by Hon. Daniel Garwe, Minister of Local Government and Public Works of the Republic of Zimbabwe, in his capacity as the Chairperson of the Committee of SADC Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management. The Minister was supported by Angèle Makombo N’tumba, SADC Deputy Executive Secretary responsible for Regional Integration who will be representing the SADC Executive Secretary, His Excellency Mr. Elias M. Magosi.
