News / National
Climate change hits Matabeleland - Meteorological Services Department
24 Mar 2012 at 05:53hrs | Views
THE southern parts of the country especially in Matabeleland have been the most affected by climate change, which has resulted in the decline of rainfall totals and poor crop yields, the Meteorological Services Department said yesterday.
Presenting an assessment of the climatic variations in the country during the World Meteorological Day Commemorations at Dlamini Secondary School in Tsholotsho district, Met Services director Dr Amos Makarau urged communities in the region to take note of the weather changes and come up with survival mechanisms.
He said the decline in rainfall totals in Tsholotsho district were a reflection of the effect of climate change, which was taking its toll on the rest of the country especially the southern parts.
Climate change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.
"We have a Meteorological Station at Tsholotsho Growth Point, which started operating in 1946 and is one of the 64 stations dotted around the country. From 1946 to date we have observed that the amount of rainfall in this part of the country has been decreasing year after year.
"We have also realised that the temperatures in this part of the country have been getting higher and higher. The water in our rivers is also diminishing. This means we have to protect the water resources we have," said Dr Makarau.
He said his department has been observing rainfall weather patterns in Tsholotsho for more than 60 years and said the results of their analysis gave insight on the need to take action to avert the negative effects of climate change.
According to the analysis, Tsholotsho has recorded an upward trend in temperatures since 1950 with the greatest rises being witnessed in the period immediately after 1980. Said Dr Makarau: "Further to the gradual increase, the temperatures have been showing signs of increased variability from year to year as from the late 1990s. Increased temperatures result in increased rates of evaporation from the soil and surface water bodies thus limiting the amount of water directly available for plant growth and human as well as animal consumption."
Added Dr Makarau:"The temperature rises in Tsholotsho and the rest of Zimbabwe are in line with the rise in global average temperatures as a result of human induced global warming. The rise in temperatures has had a ripple effect on the distribution of other climatic elements like rainfall. The decrease in the 30 year average rainfall is also a reflection of an increase in drought frequency and prolonged intra-seasonal dry spells."
Speaking at the same occasion the Governor and Resident Minister for Matabeleland North Province Thokozile Mathuthu challenged communities to conserve the ecosystem and guard against climate change.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Provincial Administrator, Ms Latiso Dlamini, Governor Mathuthu called for concerted efforts towards research on the subject of climate change so as to avert the continuous threats of climate change on human life.
"We are all witnessing the gradual shift of our rainy season, and occurrence of weather phenomenon such as cyclones, floods, hailstorms and other negative effects on human life. To this end, continuous research and developments has proved to be critical and should be given priority to safeguard human life.
There is a need to provide information on climate change and also take measures to enhance disaster preparedness as well as train farmers on new farming techniques to reduce the effects of drought," said Governor Mathuthu.
The revelation on the threat of climate change comes at a time when communities in Matabeleland region, parts of Midlands and Masvingo provinces are already feeling the effects of weather changes.
Recently the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Dr Joseph Made announced that about 500 000 hectares of land planted in this year's farming season were a complete write-off due to reduced rainfall totals.
A majority of families in the region are already faced with food shortages as there is no hope of harvesting anything this season.
The Government has however assured the nation that no one will die of hunger as it has put in place mechanisms to provide food under the grain loan scheme.
Presenting an assessment of the climatic variations in the country during the World Meteorological Day Commemorations at Dlamini Secondary School in Tsholotsho district, Met Services director Dr Amos Makarau urged communities in the region to take note of the weather changes and come up with survival mechanisms.
He said the decline in rainfall totals in Tsholotsho district were a reflection of the effect of climate change, which was taking its toll on the rest of the country especially the southern parts.
Climate change refers to any change in climate over time, whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity.
"We have a Meteorological Station at Tsholotsho Growth Point, which started operating in 1946 and is one of the 64 stations dotted around the country. From 1946 to date we have observed that the amount of rainfall in this part of the country has been decreasing year after year.
"We have also realised that the temperatures in this part of the country have been getting higher and higher. The water in our rivers is also diminishing. This means we have to protect the water resources we have," said Dr Makarau.
He said his department has been observing rainfall weather patterns in Tsholotsho for more than 60 years and said the results of their analysis gave insight on the need to take action to avert the negative effects of climate change.
According to the analysis, Tsholotsho has recorded an upward trend in temperatures since 1950 with the greatest rises being witnessed in the period immediately after 1980. Said Dr Makarau: "Further to the gradual increase, the temperatures have been showing signs of increased variability from year to year as from the late 1990s. Increased temperatures result in increased rates of evaporation from the soil and surface water bodies thus limiting the amount of water directly available for plant growth and human as well as animal consumption."
Added Dr Makarau:"The temperature rises in Tsholotsho and the rest of Zimbabwe are in line with the rise in global average temperatures as a result of human induced global warming. The rise in temperatures has had a ripple effect on the distribution of other climatic elements like rainfall. The decrease in the 30 year average rainfall is also a reflection of an increase in drought frequency and prolonged intra-seasonal dry spells."
Speaking at the same occasion the Governor and Resident Minister for Matabeleland North Province Thokozile Mathuthu challenged communities to conserve the ecosystem and guard against climate change.
In a speech read on her behalf by the Provincial Administrator, Ms Latiso Dlamini, Governor Mathuthu called for concerted efforts towards research on the subject of climate change so as to avert the continuous threats of climate change on human life.
"We are all witnessing the gradual shift of our rainy season, and occurrence of weather phenomenon such as cyclones, floods, hailstorms and other negative effects on human life. To this end, continuous research and developments has proved to be critical and should be given priority to safeguard human life.
There is a need to provide information on climate change and also take measures to enhance disaster preparedness as well as train farmers on new farming techniques to reduce the effects of drought," said Governor Mathuthu.
The revelation on the threat of climate change comes at a time when communities in Matabeleland region, parts of Midlands and Masvingo provinces are already feeling the effects of weather changes.
Recently the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Dr Joseph Made announced that about 500 000 hectares of land planted in this year's farming season were a complete write-off due to reduced rainfall totals.
A majority of families in the region are already faced with food shortages as there is no hope of harvesting anything this season.
The Government has however assured the nation that no one will die of hunger as it has put in place mechanisms to provide food under the grain loan scheme.
Source - TC
