Zimbabwe to Establish Institute of Civil Protectio...

Zimbabwe to Establish Institute of Civil Protection and Disaster Management

Philemon Jambaya

Zim Now Editor

Zimbabwe is set to establish its first Institute of Civil Protection and Disaster Management as a resilience measure against climate-induced disasters. The initiative is a collaboration between Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences and the City of Mutare, with the aim of promoting excellence in civil protection and emergency management.

The university has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Mutare to establish the institute, which will offer training programs in partnership with the Belarus Civil Protection and Disaster Management University. The training will benefit councils, private companies, and other stakeholders.

The institute will start by offering a certificate in disaster and firefighting engineering, with plans to expand to other programs in the future. The training will focus on equipping firefighters and emergency responders with specialized skills, such as sea diving and responding to various types of disasters.

According to Professor Albert Chahwanda, Vice Chancellor of Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, the establishment of the institute will take about 10 years. The first five years will focus on training personnel in Belarus, after which the institute will be fully operational.

The institute is expected to benefit various stakeholders, including councils, private companies, and communities, by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to respond to disasters and emergencies. Mutare City town Clerk Mr. Blessing Chafesuka emphasized the importance of training firefighters who can respond to any type of disaster.

The establishment of the Institute of Civil Protection and Disaster Management is a significant step towards building resilience against climate-induced disasters in Zimbabwe. With the support of international partners and stakeholders, the institute is expected to play a critical role in promoting excellence in civil protection and emergency management in the country.