Tsholotsho Flood Survivors: Three years on after the disaster caused by Cyclone Dineo

Abstract

Rapid and slow onset disasters have periodically affected Zimbabwe over time. In the 2016-2017
agricultural season flooding as a result of cyclone Dineo affected Tsholotsho resulting in the
displacement of people, loss of life for both people and animals and a reconfiguring of livelihoods.
A qualitative research employing a phenomenological design examined the state and lives of the
Tsholotsho disaster survivors two years after the flood with a view to understanding the needs of
the people and establishing how the community has moved over time to restore, rebuild and
diversify their livelihoods. Key informant interviews with the Provincial and District
Administrators; Focus group discussions with the District and Ward Level Civil Protection
Committees; Secondary analysis of sectoral reports, A Transect walk of the camp; Household and
Community FGDs, and in-depth household interviews were conducted to gather data from the
flood survivors. The study established that Tsholotsho flood disaster survivors faced a myriad of
challenges, chief among them the reconstruction of livelihoods, food insecurity, poor educational
opportunities for the children post the emergency and broken family systems owing to the
maintenance of dual homes as well as gender-based violence