Community perceptions about the causes and impacts of hydrometeorological hazards in Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study investigated the perceptions of communities in Chimanimani and Chipinge about the causes and impacts of hydrometeorological hazards and how these perceptions influence the way they respond to these hazards. Hydrometeorological hazards have become a common occurrence across the world but also in Africa including Zimbabwe. The researcher undertook a qualitative approach and an interpretive research and philosophical paradigm to investigate the problem. In designing the study, the researcher adopted ethnography as the research design and targeted population of Chimanimani and Chipinge. The researcher used convenience, and purposive sampling to conduct formal and informal interviews with members of the community and administer a questionnaire to key informants. The total sample size was 40 participants. The researcher used thematic analysis and statistical analysis to analyse the data. The researcher found that perceptions people in communities have about the causes of hydrometeorological hazards differ. Some people think that hydrometeorological hazards are caused by climate change whereas others attribute them to evil forces and acts of God. In the short-term these perceptions do not affect how people respond to hydrometeorological hazards. However, in the long run, these perceptions may affect the way people respond to hazards. The researcher also found that hydrometeorological hazards cause a number of social, infrastructural, economic, and environmental impacts. Furthermore, while there are many ways of mitigating the impacts of hydrometeorological hazards in the short-term and the long-term, major challenges the communities faced related to lack of adequate financial, human and capital resources. The researcher recommended that communities should be trained and given knowledge about hydrometeorological hazards and ways of mitigating their impacts both in the short-term and in the long term