Indigenous ways of disaster preparedness in Zimbabwe

Lessons from living Heritage

Abstract

This paper argues that today’s communities have suffered considerably due to severe droughts, floods and storms occurring in what can best be described as coming out of season. These have led to loss of lives, livestock and property. It asserts that some of these disasters are avoidable if communities learn from the intangible cultural heritage that guided the pre-colonials and those of the preindependence period when most Blacks still respected and appreciated their beliefs and value systems. It notes that while it is important to rely on the Meteorological Services Department for weather forecasting, events over the past few years have shown this Department’s forecasts at times as unreliable. The paper therefore argues that Zimbabweans, especially those involved in crop and livestock production should also observe natural phenomena such as flora and fauna as was done by the people of old who got early warning signs from Mother Nature herself.