The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
AT least 58 schools from Chipinge have joined 198 others drawn from Manicaland and Matabeleland North provinces to participate in a quiz competition aimed at promoting disaster risk reduction education.
The programme titled – Strengthening Community Led Actions in Education and Disaster Led Action – is being implemented by development partner, World Vision.
World Vision projects officer Mr Richmond Madzura said the schools quiz competition has been
running since June 2021 and is particularly targeting schools.
“The disaster preparedness and risk reduction education programme is being rolled out in 250 schools in Manicaland and Matabeleland North provinces. It is being funded by the European Union. The programme not only aims to educate learners but also raises and promotes awareness on disaster risk reduction planning in the prone areas. Chipinge District is one of those areas and we are empowering learners with knowledge on how they can protect themselves in times of disasters. We are also targeting to improve information dissemination to the local communities,” he said.
Chipinge District schools inspector, Mr Adson Mapfumo said the initiative is part of Government’s multi-stakeholder approach in tackling disaster related issues.
“As Government, we have been rolling out different programmes in Chipinge District; particularly in schools where learners are being educated on disaster risk reduction. As you may be aware, the district is prone to disasters and pupils are being educated in schools about the risks and how to reduce them and now we are joining hands with development partners who have come up with various information dissemination programmes to complement our efforts,” said.
Government last year ratified the Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection Bill which amended the Civil Protection Act as part of continuing efforts to ensure adequate preparedness and predictability in responses to the general management of disasters at national, provincial and local levels.
