Virtual seminar by Dr Patience Chadambuka: Rural Communities and Coping with Extreme Heat in South-Western Zimbabwe

Abstract:

The paper focusses on rural populations’ coping strategies in the face of climate change induced by extreme heat. Specifically, it considers the various coping strategies that different villagers adopt including drinking lots of water, indigenous methods of cooling water, sleeping outdoors, checking on the old and young, working in the early morning and the use of sheds among others. These strategies are also discussed in relation to their strengths and limitations. This qualitative research is based on data drawn from key informant interviews with government department representatives as well as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with ordinary villagers in Beitbridge district, south western Zimbabwe. It is recommended that authorities stop normalising and trivialising extreme heat but, should instead step-up efforts to complement vulnerable populations’ efforts to address extreme heat.

Bionote:

Dr Patience Chadambuka is Chairperson, Lecturer and a Researcher in the Department of Community Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences at the Midlands State University, Zimbabwe. She holds a BSc in Sociology and an MSc in Sociology and Social Anthropology from the University of Zimbabwe as well as a PhD in Sociology from Rhodes University, South Africa. Patience researches and publishes on land and agrarian studies, livelihoods, natural resource management, disability, climate change and Social Behaviour Change. She has authored journal articles and book chapters and edited books on those various areas. She has also been awarded international grants on COVID-19 and disability, heat research and collaborative teaching. Patience is also an active scholar who participates in local and international academic conferences and seminars.