ActionAid Zimbabwe Calls for Timely Finalisation of the Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection Bill
Press Statement
Harare – 13 October 2025. ActionAid Zimbabwe (AAZ) joins the global community in commemorating the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) under the theme “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters” and the slogan “A fundamental shift in investing in resilience.”
Recent global assessments indicate that the direct economic cost of disasters has risen sharply, with annual losses now estimated at approximately US$200 billion (Global Assessment Report, UNDRR, 2025). When broader welfare and consumption impacts are included, World Bank analyses suggest global annual losses of roughly US$520 billion. These findings underscore the urgent need for sustained investment in resilience and proactive disaster risk reduction.
Zimbabwe, while classified as a medium-to-low climate risk country, experiences disproportionately high impacts due to socio-economic vulnerability and limited adaptive capacity. According to the World Bank Financial Protection Forum (2022), disasters in Zimbabwe between 1975 and 2022 have caused total economic losses of at least US$7.5 billion, the majority of which were uninsured. These losses highlight the critical importance of robust disaster governance and investments in resilience at national and community levels.
ActionAid Zimbabwe commends the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) for progress in strengthening the national disaster management framework, including the approval of the principles of the Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection Bill (DRM Bill) and the ongoing drafting processes led by the Office of the Attorney-General and the Department of Civil Protection. With Zimbabwe facing an escalating frequency and intensity of shocks, stressors, and hazards including droughts, floods, cyclones, and other events capable of triggering disasters, there is an urgent need for a proactive, integrated, and risk-informed governance framework that strengthens resilience, enhances preparedness, and supports comprehensive risk reduction at all levels of society.
The 2025 IDDRR campaign highlights the widening gap between escalating disaster costs and investment in resilience. It calls upon governments to:
- Increase domestic and international financing for disaster risk reduction and resilience-building.
- Ensure all public and private investments are risk-informed and resilient.
While Zimbabwe’s disaster risk reduction framework, anchored in the Civil Protection Act (1989)—provides a legal foundation for disaster response, evolving risks require a modernised legislative framework that enhances coordination, preparedness, and financial resilience. The forthcoming DRM Bill offers a timely opportunity to achieve this by ensuring decentralised financing mechanisms, community participation, and improved disaster preparedness across all levels of government.
ActionAid Zimbabwe believes that the Bill presents a critical opportunity to shift from reactive disaster response to proactive resilience building, strengthening national capacity to safeguard lives and livelihoods. Evidence shows that investing in resilience is cost-effective: for example, studies suggest that every US$1 invested in resilience and disaster preparedness can save communities up to US$13 in damage, cleanup costs, and economic disruption.
As Zimbabwe commemorates the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, ActionAid Zimbabwe encourages the Government to:
- Prioritise the finalisation of the Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection Bill, ensuring it aligns with international best practice and emerging risks.
- Integrate resilience-building and proactive preparedness as central pillars of disaster governance and development planning.
ActionAid Zimbabwe reaffirms its commitment to working alongside the Government of Zimbabwe, civil society, and development partners to strengthen national resilience, promote risk-informed development, and protect the most vulnerable communities.
For further inquiries, please contact:
ActionAid Zimbabwe Interim Country Director, Dr Selina C. Pasirayi on
Email: info.zimbabwe@actionaid.org
Twitter:https://twitter.com/ActionAidZim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActionAidZimbabwe/
Website: https://zimbabwe.actionaid.org/
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