Cyclones in Southern Africa

There is evidence that the world has been witnessing more intense tropical cyclones. Accompanying these tropical cyclones are heightened levels of devastation that witness the loss of human life and wildlife, destruction of natural resources and property and the disruption of major economic and social activities. To this end, there is a growing demand for publications focusing on tropical cyclones at various levels that include regional, national and local levels, especially from Africa. One sub-region that has been witnessing the harsh realities of the increasing intensity of tropical cyclones in southern Africa. However, within this region, countries are usually impacted at varying degrees of damage. Among the countries that usually encounter the harshness of these tropical cyclones are the Comoros, Botswana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Reunion, the Seychelles, South Africa and Zimbabwe. From the history books, the following tropical cyclones made landfall and hit southern Africa: Eline (2000), Favio (2007), Dineo (2017), Idai (2019), Kenneth (2019), Eliose (2021), and Chalane (2020). Although all these tropical cyclones had negative impacts, it is undoubtedly Tropical Cyclone Idai that shocked the world with its devastation mainly in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe in March 2019. Key infrastructure was destroyed, livelihoods were lost, and the environment was degraded. Thousands of people died, many more were injured, many remain unaccounted for and others remained homeless as of the time of finalising this book in February 2021.

This book, therefore focuses on the devastating impacts of Tropical Cyclone Idai in Zimbabwe. The book interfaces Tropical Cyclone Idai's impacts with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and some of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This linkage was deliberate given that there is still time remaining until 2030, and the world has generally agreed to move into the future along the pathways of sustainable development and sustainability. The book adds to the first comprehensive profiling of the impacts of tropical cyclones on southern African economies, particularly that of Zimbabwe. It also comes up as the first in a three-volume series. The other volumes to look out for are Cyclones in Southern Africa Vol 2: Foundational and Fundamental Topics; and Cyclones in Southern Africa Vol 3: Implications for the Sustainable Development Goals. To this end, this book is suitable as a read for several professionals and disciplines such as tourism and hospitality studies, economics, sustainable development, development studies, environmental sciences, arts, geography, life sciences, politics, planning and public health.

Autorentext

Godwell Nhamo is a Full Professor and Exxaro Chair in Business and Climate Change at the University of South Africa (UNISA), South Africa. He is a National Research Foundation (NRF) C-Rated researcher in the fields of Climate Change and Governance, Green Economy and Sustainable Development. He holds a PhD from Rhodes University (South Africa), an MSc from the University of Botswana (Botswana) and a BSc Honours from the University of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe).

David Chikodzi is a Post-doctoral fellow in the Exxaro Chair in Business and Climate Change at the University of South Africa. He holds a PhD in Geography and Environment Science from the University of the Western Cape (South Africa), Masters' degree in Environmental Policy and Planning, as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree in Geography from the University of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe).

Inhalt
Part1.- Introduction and Background.- Chapter1.- The catastrophic Impacts of Tropical Cyclone Idai in southern Africa.- Part2. Conceptual and Global Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.- Chapter2.- The B4 Model (Building and Building Back Better) in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management.- Chapter3.- Use and contestations of earth observation technologies in disaster risk reduction and management.- Chapter4.- Naming of tropical cyclones: The World Meteorological Organisation calls it Idai, while grassroots know it as Dutumupengo.- Part3. Impacts of Tropical Cyclone Idai on Selected Sectors.- Chapter 5.- Scaled-up illegal gold mining activities in Chimanimani post-Tropical Cyclone Idai.- Chapter6.- Energy infrastructure and the building back better concept: Lessons from Tropical Cyclone Idai.- Chapter7.- Floods in the midst of drought: Impact of tropical cyclone Idai on water security in south-eastern Zimbabwe.- Chapter8.- Building back better domestic and irrigation water supply systems in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Idai.- Part4.- Tropical Cyclone Idai Acts of Kindness.- Chapter9.- Ethical philanthropy and social responsibility during natural disasters: The Higherlife Foundation and Tropical Cyclone Idai interventions.- Chapter10.- The Chimanimani Hotel and Tropical Cyclone Idai: When humanitarian needs are priority over business interests.- Part5.- Looking Ahead in Order to Act Today.- Chapter11.- Ethical and human rights dilemmas during disasters: Emerging findings from Tropical Cyclone Idai.- Chapter12.- Religious engagements with Tropical Cyclone Idai and implications for building back better.- Chapter13.- Exploring the potential of dark tourism in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Idai in Chimanimani.- Chapter14.- Tropical cyclone Idai and flood hazard modelling in the eastern parts of the Save Catchment, Zimbabwe.- Part6.- Conclusion and policy recommendations.- Chapter15.- Tropical Cyclone Idai: Summary of Key Findings and Recommendations to Enhance the B4 Model Zimbabwe