Disaster response and relief in Zimbabwe: a gender perspective, a case of Tokwe Mukosi disaster

Abstract

The research set up to assess disaster response and relief in Zimbabwe from a gender perspective. Thus looking at whether response and relief in Zimbabwe is able to meet the needs of both men and women during disaster situations using a case of Tokwe Mukosi disaster. This research was done using primary and secondary sources. The research was largely qualitative in nature through the use of research techniques such as questionnaires, interviews as well as desktop research. Research from the Tokwe Mukosi disasters shows that there is poor gender mainstreaming in response and relief as the relief items were not gender sensitive, dissemination of early warnings was mainly “manned” thus gender biased, human settlements, health, water and sanitation affected both men and women but women bearing the brunt of caring for the sick and children’s needs were not also catered for as children and parents are inseparable and mostly mothers, therefore failure by the response and relief to meet the needs of children resulted in parents, mostly mothers having their roles expanded. Poor gender mainstreaming in Tokwe Mukosi disaster has resulted in disruption of informal jobs, GBV, health problems affecting both men and women but with women bearing the role of caring for the sick. The challenges to effective gender mainstreaming include ineffective gender analysis, NGOs diverting funds, government facing resource constraints and relying on CSOs of which most of the CSOs are not fully committed to mainstream gender in disaster response and relief. Strategies which can be adopted for effective gender mainstreaming in response and relief include coordinated efforts and good relations between the government and CSOs, effective gender analysis and tight security to monitor issues of gender based violence as this affect both men and women but at differing levels depending on the level of vulnerability.