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Sifelani Tsiko Agric, Environment & Innovations Editor
Severe droughts now strikes the SADC region every two to three years five times higher than in 1980, according to a study by the Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (SARDC).

Neto Nengomasha, a senior research coordinator at Sardc, told journalists at a virtual media workshop on Reporting Disasters in the SADC region, that weather events such as droughts and cyclone-induced storms have increased by more than a third this decade.

“Severe drought now strikes the SADC region every two to three years as from the year 2010 compared to the 1970s and 1980s when droughts occurred at least after every ten years while floods rarely occurred,” he said.

“In the 2000s the frequency of drought increased to between four and five years. Tropical cyclones and floods picked up. Tropical cyclones are increasing as well and at least 3 cyclones have already occurred in the 2020/21 rainfall season. Cyclone Chalane in December 2020, Eloise in January and Guambe in February 2021.”

Drought is one of the natural disasters causing food insecurity in southern Africa widening poverty levels in the region.

Sardc and the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA) organised the workshop to provide a platform for journalists from the region to share experiences on disaster risk reduction reporting.

The workshop attracted journalists from the entire SADC region.