I SAY this every summer, but I think I mean it more this season than before: “This must be the hottest summer I have ever experienced in Zimbabwe”.
After some research, I discovered that my "feeling" was definitely not off the mark this season and maybe not in previous ones either.
In December 2024, Earth.org confirmed that European scientists had projected 2024 as the hottest year ever recorded, following abnormally high global temperatures in November.
The global average temperature last November was 14,1°C, which is 0,73°C above the 1991-2020 average, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). By the end of the year, the United Nations secretary-general was quoted to have said the top 10 hottest years on record had all occurred in the past decade, including 2024.
Scorching, deadly heatwaves have become more frequent. Last July, daily global average temperatures broke records on consecutive days, an event scientists called "extraordinary".
The National Centre for Environmental Information reported that 2023 was the warmest year on record since 1850, with global temperatures 1,18°C above the 20th-century average.
Africa also experienced its hottest year ever, with annual temperatures 1,49°C above average, marking the 31st consecutive year of above-average temperatures for the continent. These rising temperatures disrupt ecosystems, economies, and lives.
In 2024, Africa experienced a series of severe climate-related disasters that emphasise the rising intensity of such events across the continent.
- Zim women bear the brunt of climate change impacts
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Torrential rains and severe flooding in West and Central Africa affected nearly 6,6 million people, surpassing the previous year's total by more than 40%.
Meanwhile, between March and April, East Africa faced devastating floods and landslides in countries such as Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya, and Somalia, resulting in 351 fatalities and economic losses estimated at US$241,9 million (according to Munich RE).
Parts of Southern Africa were gripped by damaging droughts, further worsening the ongoing humanitarian crises in the region.
These events highlight the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters in Africa, emphasising the urgent need for comprehensive climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
In Zimbabwe, the rainy season began with predictions of normal to above-normal rainfall.
However, many doubted this forecast as weeks passed with little to no rain.
Memories of Cyclone Idai’s devastation linger, but some even welcomed the news of Cyclone Chido, hoping it would bring much-needed rain. But why are we now relying on severe weather events for rainfall?
Zimbabwe is one of Southern Africa’s countries affected by climate change. Prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and severe floods are increasingly common, disrupting livelihoods, food security, and access to essential resources.
On the surface, it may seem that everyone is equally affected.
However, women and girls bear the brunt of these impacts due to their traditional roles and societal expectations.
Climate change impact
Increased burden of water collection - prolonged droughts have dried up rivers and wells, forcing women and girls to travel long(er) distances to fetch water. This not only takes time away from education and income-generating activities but also exposes them to gender-based violence (GBV). For instance, many communities have reported women facing harassment while collecting water from distant sources. For some areas, young girls may receive sexual advances from men that have made themselves ‘borehole managers’ in the communities.
Food insecurity and malnutrition - women, who are predominantly smallholder farmers, face devastating losses from climate-induced crop failures. This reduces their ability to feed their families, leading to malnutrition. Women often sacrifice their own nutrition to prioritise feeding their children and families, exacerbating their vulnerability. In some provinces, recurring droughts have led to poor harvests, leaving families dependent on food aid.
Health and wellbeing challenges - floods increase the prevalence of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Women, as primary caregivers, bear the burden of caring for sick family members. Recent cholera outbreaks in Kariba and Mazowe highlight how these diseases disproportionately affect women. Historical data often shows women accounting for up to 60% of cases during outbreaks due to their caregiving roles.
Loss of livelihoods and economic disempowerment - many rural women rely on natural resources for their livelihoods, such as farming, fishing, and selling firewood. Climate change-induced environmental degradation reduces these income streams, increasing dependency and limiting their economic empowerment.
Displacement and vulnerability - flooding and droughts often force families to migrate. Women and girls in temporary shelters are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and GBV. Cyclone Idai in 2019 illustrated these risks, with overcrowded shelters exposing women and girls to harassment, assault, and domestic violence. Financial hardships following such disasters have also led to child marriages and human trafficking.
Mitigating strategies
Gender-responsive climate policies - policies must consider the unique needs of women and girls, ensuring access to resources, credit, and decision-making platforms. For example, Rwanda’s Gender and Climate Change Strategy integrates women into climate decision-making and ensures equitable access to climate finance. Similarly, Morocco’s Green Morocco Plan empowers women farmers with climate-resilient agricultural practices.
Empowering women through education and technology - training on climate-smart practices like Zimbabwe’s Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme is crucial. This initiative promotes mulching, planting basins, and crop rotation to conserve water and improve yields. Women, as the majority of smallholder farmers, are central to its success. By reducing soil erosion and boosting productivity, Pfumvudza exemplifies how local, gender-inclusive solutions can build climate resilience.
Strengthening community-based adaptation strategies - encouraging local solutions, such as water-harvesting systems and reforestation projects, can empower women. For instance, small-scale reforestation projects have involved women’s groups in planting indigenous trees, restoring ecosystems while generating income.
Improving access to health and social services - enhancing healthcare infrastructure and providing adequate support services for GBV survivors is essential. In flood-prone areas mobile health clinics could bridge the gap for displaced communities.
Building resilience through diversified livelihoods - supporting alternative income opportunities, such as craft production and eco-tourism, can reduce women’s dependency on climate-vulnerable activities. In Hwange, women’s cooperatives have successfully created eco-tourism ventures that leverage the area’s natural beauty while promoting conservation.
Climate change is not gender neutral. Its effects on women and girls in Zimbabwe demand urgent attention. The link between climate change and gender-based violence is particularly alarming. As water sources dwindle and communities are displaced by extreme weather events, women face increased risks of harassment, exploitation, and domestic violence. Displacement camps and overcrowded shelters often lack adequate security, leaving women and girls vulnerable to abuse.
Furthermore, financial hardships brought on by climate-induced disasters exacerbate child marriages and human trafficking.
Addressing these challenges through inclusive policies, grassroots participation, and gender-sensitive interventions can transform vulnerabilities into opportunities for empowerment.
Prioritising the voices and experiences of women in climate discussions is not just a moral imperative; it is essential for building a more equitable and sustainable future.
We need to act now to mitigate the twin crises of climate change and gender-based violence, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Madamombe is a gender and communications expert. These weekly New Horizon articles, published in the Zimbabwe Independent, are coordinated by Lovemore Kadenge, an independent consultant, managing consultant of Zawale Consultants (Pvt) Ltd, past president of the Zimbabwe Economics Society and past president of the Chartered Governance & Accountancy Institute in Zimbabwe. — kadenge.zes@gmail.com or +263 772 382 852.
