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Evelene Taadira
Southern Africa regional climate experts meeting in Harare are expected to announce next season’s weather forecast today as part of assisting decision-making in various industries and farming communities within the region.Scientists and stakeholders are meeting for the 17th Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum, (Sarcof), an annual event aimed at discussing progress, challenges and constraints met by member states in the areas pertaining to meteorology.

Meteorological Association of Southern Africa Climate Change and Meteorological director Mr Jolamu Nkhokwe said the aim of the meeting was to bring more accurate and timely information on weather and climate for policy decisions. “The livelihoods of millions of people are critically dependent on a climate that is not only highly reliable and unreliable in the short term, but is also expected to change in the longer term as a result of human activity,” he said.

Extreme climate variations in the region have in the past led to perennial droughts and floods, with one of the worst cases having been tropical cyclone Eline, which killed close to 150 people, displacing thousands of others in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe at the end of the last decade.

Climate expert Mr Leonard Unganai called on governments to help co-ordinate efforts across sectors and various institutions so that contradictions are minimised and a common vision is reached on how local communities could adapt to the rapidly changing climatic conditions.

“As nations, we need to check and see the key issues which in Zimbabwe’s context have been ranging from steady rises in temperature and unpredictable rainfall patterns and the subsequent implications on agriculture and map the appropriate ways of dealing with these,” he said. Zambian principal research and planning officer for disaster management and mitigation Mr Kapekele Evans said the prediction was crucial for the region as most of the inhabitants depended on agriculture for their livelihood.

“The conference is very relevant and the prediction as well because people can adequately prepare themselves before the start of the rains and it also helps nations to safeguard themselves against hazards and proper disaster management,” he said.

Mr Lawrence Mashungu from the Zimbabwe Climate Change Youth Network urged meteorologists to simplify the forecast for the benefit of communal farmers. “The information is simply given as below normal or above normal rainfall and if that information is not explained further for everybody to understand, then it ceases to be useful,” he said.

The weather has been constantly unpredictable in the region as a result of the effects of climate change and this has resulted in communities experiencing drought.

The rainfall patterns have significantly shifted with most farmers in the region receiving good rains at the beginning of the season, but experiencing drought when the crops reach a critical stage.