Zimbabwe Receives ICT Boost Ahead of Regional Emergency Response Training

 The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Engineer B. Kabikira, today accepted a donation of eight laptops and a printer from the World Food Programme (WFP), ahead of a key Southern African Development Community (SADC) emergency response training session set to begin in Nyanga this Sunday.

The donated ICT equipment will support the upcoming Emergency Response Training (ERT), which aims to strengthen regional preparedness and enhance coordination capabilities in responding to disasters across SADC member states.

Zimbabwe is hosting this session as part of its role in promoting regional resilience. The training will provide participants with practical knowledge and tools for managing humanitarian responses during natural or man-made crises in the region.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Deputy Minister Kabikira said the technology would significantly enhance the ERT’s ability to manage data, improve communication, and streamline coordination efforts during emergencies.

“This support from the World Food Programme is timely and crucial. It complements our national and regional objectives of ensuring our emergency response teams are adequately prepared. This is not just about technology—it’s about protecting lives,” said Eng. Kabikira.

This is the second phase of the SADC Emergency Response Training initiative, following the inaugural session held in Maun, Botswana, in June/July 2024, where 32 participants from 12 member states were trained.

Given the success of the first training, the SADC Committee of Ministers responsible for Disaster Management—then chaired by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Hon. Daniel Garwe—approved the proposal to expand the team. The goal is to build a diverse and skilled response unit capable of tackling a wide range of disaster scenarios across the region.

The committee adopted the decision during its November 2024 meeting in Victoria Falls, where Zimbabwe was also selected as host for the second cohort of training.

This year’s training will run from 25 August to 4 September 2025, with participation from 37 candidates representing all 16 SADC member states.

The session is being jointly facilitated by the SADC Secretariat, the SADC Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit, the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC), the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The official opening is scheduled for 27 August 2025, to be presided over by Hon. Garwe.