MARTIN MAWAYA
HARARE-Zimbabwe has called for urgent reforms to emergency telecommunications systems across southern Africa, warning that climate-induced disasters are increasingly exposing critical gaps in the region’s communications infrastructure.
Speaking at the official opening of the 2026 ITU-Sadc Emergency Telecommunications and Early Warning Systems for All (EWS4All) Regional Capacity Development Workshop in Harare, Deputy ICT, Postal and Courier Services Dingumuzi Phuti (pictured) said robust and coordinated telecoms systems were now central to disaster risk management and economic resilience.
The workshop, organised by the International Telecommunication Union in partnership with the Southern African Development Community and hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe, comes at a time when the region is grappling with recurring cyclones, floods and droughts that have disrupted lives, agriculture and critical information infrastructure.
Phuti, representing Zimbabwe as outgoing Sadc chair, said recent disasters had shown that when telecommunications networks collapse, emergency response efforts are severely compromised.
“Timely, reliable and coordinated telecommunications are the backbone of effective disaster response,” he said, noting that ICT systems must remain operational during crises, including through rapid deployment of temporary solutions in affected areas.
He acknowledged that many Sadc member states still face structural weaknesses, including lack of harmonized standard operating procedures, limited interoperability between systems, bureaucratic delays in importing emergency equipment and weak coordination during emergencies.
“These gaps continue to hinder our collective efforts,” Phuti said, adding that the region must move from policy pronouncements to operational readiness.
At the centre of the reforms is the Sadc Model National Emergency Telecommunications Plan (NETP), developed with ITU support since 2023 and approved by Sadc ICT ministers in Harare last year.
The framework is designed to guide member states in strengthening emergency communications and aligning systems across borders.
Zimbabwe is among five Sadc countries that have begun domesticating the model plan.
Phuti said Harare would soon convene the Civil Protection Department and other stakeholders to establish a National Emergency Telecommunications Working Group to oversee implementation.
The country is also serving as custodian of Sadc’s emergency telecommunications equipment supplied by the ITU, through the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), positioning it as a regional logistics hub in times of disaster.
Beyond hardware, the workshop is focusing on harmonizing early warning systems using the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), a global standard that enables governments to speedily disseminate alerts across multiple platforms, including radio, television and mobile networks.
Analysts say aligning early warning systems could significantly reduce response times and economic losses, particularly in cyclone-prone countries such as Mozambique, Malawi and Madagascar.
Phuti also urged Sadc member states to ratify the Tampere Convention on the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Relief Operations, which facilitates the cross-border movement of telecommunications equipment and personnel during disasters.
The convention came into force in 2005 after securing the required ratifications, but uptake within Sadc remains limited.
According to the United Nations Treaty Collection, only Madagascar has signed the convention among Sadc members.
Industry observers note that with climate volatility intensifying, the economic case for resilient telecommunications is becoming more compelling.
Disruptions to networks not only hamper rescue operations but also stall banking systems, digital payments, government services and supply chains amplifying financial losses.
As Zimbabwe concludes its tenure as Sadc chair, Harare appears keen to cement a legacy anchored on digital resilience and regional coordination.
