Source: The Herald (Harare)
by Tsitsi Matope (Harare)
(21 September) Southern Africa countries are battling against environmental degradation which is now posing a threat to climatic conditions in a region prone to droughts.
Climate experts who met recently in Botswana say lack of proper management of natural resources, the degradation of forests and bio-diversity and pollution of water and air has largely contributed to dry spells the region is now more susceptible to.
The experts were meeting here for the annual Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF).
They said nurturing of the environment remains critical as more than half the world's population could be living in severely water stressed areas by 2032 if countries do not change their attitudes towards the environment.
Botswana is one of the region's driest countries.
Regarded as Africa's Texas, its surface area is 581 730 square kilometres and is 84 percent covered by the Kalahari Desert.
Although it is one of the countries with a fast growing economy, climate experts say the country, just like Namibia, has to tackle immense challenges related to inadequate rainfall and water resources that dry up early and impact on the country's livestock sector.
"We expect the better part of the region to receive less rains during the first phase of the season. It is up to stakeholders to see how best they can plan while they also consider strengthening their efforts to rehabilitate the environment," World Meteorological Administrator for Africa Mr Victor Simango said.
He said the situation calls for national planners from the region to start working on mainstreaming aspects of climate in their activities to enhance disaster preparedness and help improve food security in the region.
Several countries, including Zimbabwe, some parts of Tanzania, most parts of Mozambique, northern Malawi, the southern and extreme north-eastern parts of Zambia and northern parts of South Africa, need to brace up for less rains in the first part of the coming season.
"We are also expecting to get normal to below normal rainfall during the first part of the season in some parts of Swaziland, most parts of Botswana, bulk of Angola, parts of Namibia, southern flank of South Africa, north-west part of Madagascar and the whole of Mauritius," SARCOF acting co-ordinator Mr Brad Garan'anga said
Other stakeholders, who included livestock and crop farmers, said the region should work together in ensuring enhancement of irrigation facilities for the sustainability of crops and animals in the first part of the season.
They said it is critical that Southern African Development Community (Sadc) countries to work together to help boost food security for the whole region.
"If some countries within the region experience devastating droughts, this would affect food security in the whole region. It is important for all countries to see how best they can help each other to increase production at the initial stage of cropping," Zimbabwe Meteorological Services director Dr Amos Makarau said.
Normal to above normal rains are, however, expected in most parts of South Africa, some parts of Namibia, Madagascar, parts of Botswana, parts of Swaziland, Angola and the whole of Lesotho between October and December. […]
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