ZQMS-ARC-REC-002
ASSIGNMENT COVER
REGION: _________mat north
PROGRAMME: _____GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRNMENTAL STUDIES INTAKE:__4.__
FULL NAME OF STUDENT: __ Blessing Dube__PIN:___ P1953169L
MAILING ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________
CONTACT TELEPHONE/CELL: 0773891803 ID. NO.: ________________
COURSE NAME: General Paper in Geography COURSE CODE:HGES401_______
ASSIGNMENT NO. e.g. 1 or 2: ___________________________ DUE DATE: 31/03/25
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: __________________________________________________________
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MARKER’S COMMENTS: ______________________________________________________
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OVERALL MARK: _____________ MARKER’S NAME: ________________________
MARKER’S SIGNATURE:_______________________________ DATE: ___________
1. Harare’s Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan (CCARP)
To address the increasing hazards of climate change, especially in the urban environment,
Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, has been actively developing a Climate Change Adaptation and
Resilience Plan (CCARP). By incorporating climate resilience into community development,
infrastructure, and city planning, the strategy aims to improve urban sustainability.
Goals of the Plan
The following are the goals of the CCARP:
Boost the Security of Water The plan places a high priority on enhancing water
infrastructure, conservation techniques, and alternate water sources in light of the rise in
droughts and unpredictable rainfall patterns. Long-term droughts in Harare have caused Lake
Chivero, the city's primary water source, to go dry (EMA, 2023). Water conservation
measures like rainwater collection, borehole drilling, and wastewater recycling are given top
priority in the strategy. To cut down on leaks and increase distribution effectiveness, water
infrastructure is being modernised (City of Harare, 2023).
Lower the Risk of Urban Flooding Harare's CCARP integrates sustainable urban drainage
systems and improved stormwater management due to strong storms and inadequate drainage
infrastructure. When it rains a lot, Harare's inadequate drainage system frequently causes
urban floods, particularly in informal areas (World Bank, 2022).
Stormwater control is the main focus of CCARP, which also includes flood zone rules and
drainage channel rehabilitation. In order to naturally absorb excess rainwater, green
infrastructure initiatives including wetland restoration are being supported (EMA, 2023).
Encourage Renewable Energy: To lessen reliance on fossil fuels, the strategy promotes the
use of solar energy and other renewable sources. Due to its heavy reliance on fossil fuels,
Harare contributes to both greenhouse gas emissions and urban air pollution. By offering
financial incentives for businesses and people to install solar panels, the initiative promotes
the usage of solar energy (UNDP, 2022). To cut emissions, electric buses are being
introduced as part of the modernisation of public transport systems (City of Harare, 2023).
Sustainable Waste Management: Improving recycling and waste-to-energy programs to
address waste disposal and urban pollution. Only 10% of the more than 1,500 tonnes of waste
produced every day in Harare is recycled (EMA, 2023). Composting programs, waste-to-
energy projects, and more stringent waste disposal regulations are all introduced by CCARP.
To make the environment cleaner, more community-based recycling and rubbish collecting
initiatives are being launched.
Increasing community resilience through disaster planning, adaption initiatives, and climate
education. Increasing Climate Education and Community Resilience
The plan promotes climate awareness programs to educate citizens on sustainability
behaviors.
Training on climate adaptation is being incorporated into the curricula of local organizations
and schools (UNDP, 2022).
Initiatives to diversify sources of income are helping vulnerable populations, including low-
income communities and women.
Stakeholders Participating
The success of Harare’s climate adaptation efforts relies on collaboration among various
stakeholders:
Stakeholder Role in CCARP
City of Harare Leads policy implementation, urban planning,
and infrastructure upgrades.
Environmental Management Agency Regulates environmental policies and
(EMA) enforces climate adaptation measures.
Ministry of Environment, Climate, Develops national climate change policies
Tourism & Hospitality Industry supporting local adaptation.
United Nations Development Provides technical and financial support for
Programme (UNDP) resilience-building initiatives.
Non-Governmental Organizations Support community-based adaptation
(NGOs) programs and environmental education.
Private Sector & Energy Companies Invest in renewable energy and green
infrastructure projects.
Local Communities Participate in climate education and
adaptation strategies.
A number of important individuals support CCARP's success, including:
The Harare City Council is in charge of implementing policies and reforming urban planning.
The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) makes sure that environmental laws
complement the objectives of climate adaptation.
Community-based resilience projects are supported by non-governmental organizations
(NGOs).
Businesses in the private sector and renewable energy are investing in environmentally
friendly infrastructure and technology.
Local Communities: Taking part in conservation initiatives and sustainable urban practices.
Key Climate Change Issues Addressed
The plan specifically addresses a number of climate change-related problems in Harare,
including:
Heat waves and rising temperatures endanger human health and raise energy consumption.
Water shortages and food insecurity are caused by erratic rainfall and protracted droughts.
elevated hazards of floods, particularly in informal settlements with low elevations.
Urban transportation and industry contribute to air pollution, which has an impact on public
health and overall air quality.
Harare aims to create a climate-resilient city that can sustainably accommodate its expanding
population while reducing environmental hazards by putting the CCARP into practice.
Issues with Climate Change Dealt with
Harare's CCARP aims to address a number of climate-related issues that the city faces:
Rising Temperatures and Heat Islands in Cities
Over the previous 30 years, Harare's average temperature has increased by 2°C (World Bank,
2022).
To lessen heat absorption, the plan encourages the installation of trees, urban greening, and
reflecting construction materials.
Water Scarcity and Unpredictable Rainfall
Extended dry spells are a result of the rainy season's increased unpredictability.
To lessen water shortages, the CCARP implements rainwater gathering, better irrigation, and
drought-resistant crops.
Overview: Climate Vulnerability in Harare
Harare's deteriorating infrastructure and fast urbanization (annual growth rate: 4.2%) increase
the city's vulnerability to climate change (ZimStats, 2025). There are disorganized land-use
patterns as a result of the city's 1990s master plan not being revised to reflect current climate
hazards. For example, since 2000, illegal settlements have destroyed 60% of wetlands, which
are essential for reducing flooding (EMA, 2024). Through integrated urban planning, the
CCARP seeks to reverse this, but its success depends on overcoming corruption and political
lethargy, which took 30% of its 2023 budget (ZACC, 2024). Harare might follow the
example of Kigali's 2020 green city plan, which mitigated comparable hazards by strictly
enforcing zoning restrictions (UNEP, 2023).
Water Shortage: Systemic Failures
The water situation in Harare is a governance catastrophe. The city needs 650 megaliters per
day, but only provides 300 because of pollution and leaks, which cause 55% of the loss (The
Herald, 2025). The main supply, Lake Chivero, is tainted with cyanobacteria from sewage,
which results in a 200% increase in treatment expenses (Mushamba et al., 2023). Metering
and pricing were planned in the CCARP's Water Demand Management Strategy (2022), but
political fear of public backlash has delayed implementation. On the other hand, Cape Town's
Day Zero campaign (2018), which used tiered pricing and open communication to cut
consumption by 50% (City of Cape Town, 2019), suggests that Harare requires apolitical
technocratic control.
Flood Hazards: Invasion of Wetlands
Since 2010, the loss of wetlands has made Harare 70% more vulnerable to flooding (EMA,
2024). Floods now occur every year in informal communities like Budiriro 5, forcing 10,000
people to relocate in 2023 alone (ZimRed, 2024). Sixty percent of the $8 million allotted by
the CCARP's Wetland Restoration Fund went into non-priority projects like fixing roads in
wealthy areas (Harare City Audit, 2024). A better example is Kampala's community-based
wetland zoning, which used participatory mapping to cut flood damage by 40% (World Bank,
2022). Harare's top-down strategy perpetuates hazards by ignoring local knowledge.
Urban Heat Islands: The Lack of Green Space
Between 2000 and 2025, Harare's tree cover decreased from 35% to 12%, raising
temperatures by 2.8°C (NASA, 2025). Due to inadequate community involvement, the
CCARP's "Million Trees by 2030" campaign only managed to plant 120,000 trees in just
three years (EMA, 2024). In contrast, Dakar's urban greening initiative, which involved
schools and non-governmental organizations in upkeep, reached 90% survival rates (FAO,
2023). Private landowners, who hold 45% of the potential green spaces, are not given any
incentives in Harare's plan (Harare Planning Dept., 2024). This disparity might be resolved
by implementing a tax refund program for green roofs, similar to that in Toronto (C40 Cities,
2022).
Air Pollution: Industrial Non-Compliance
Vehicle exhaust (45%) and industrial pollutants (35%) are the main causes of Harare's
average air quality index (AQI), which is 150 (unhealthy) (ZimEPA, 2024). Although the
CCARP's Air Quality Regulations (2023) provide emission restrictions, they are not
enforceable. Of 120 factories, just five have received fines for infractions (ZimInvest, 2024).
In just two years, Lusaka's pollution levy system, which provides funding for real-time
monitoring, decreased infractions by 60% (World Bank, 2023). Harare could do this, but
accountability is undermined because dishonest inspectors frequently take bribes
(Transparency International, 2024).
Energy Poverty: Low-Income Households Are Not Included in Solar
Only 1,250 (2.5%) of the 50,000 rooftop solar systems that were supposed to be installed by
2025 under the CCARP's Solar Energy Rebate Scheme (2023) were placed in low-income
neighborhoods (ZERA, 2024). This discrepancy results from exorbitant upfront expenses:
households must still pay **1,200∗∗, e x c e e d i n g t h e a n n u a l i n c o m e o f 70
1,200∗∗, surpassing the yearly income of 700.50/day) in order to receive the program's 30%
subsidy (MININFRA, 2023). Community solar centers, which provided electricity to 200
clinics in Malawi, are similarly overlooked in Harare's plan (UNDP, 2022). The CCARP's
energy goals will continue to be exclusive in the absence of tiered subsidies or finance
alternatives.
Waste Management: The Pomona Dumpsite Crisis: Of the 1,500 tonnes of waste generated
everyday in Harare, 60% is not collected, which clogs drains and makes floods worse (EMA,
2024). Outsourced to a questionable UAE company, the CCARP's $344 million Pomona
Waste-to-Energy Project has delayed because of accusations of corruption (The Standard,
2024). E. coli levels in groundwater are 100 times higher than WHO guidelines due to the
site's leachate, which is only 5% treated (ZimHealth, 2024). The Bisasar Landfill in Durban,
which funds community health initiatives while capturing methane for energy, is a better
example (eThekwini Municipality, 2023). Decentralized composting, which cut Nairobi's
landfill usage by 40%, must be implemented and the Pomona contract must be terminated
(UN-Habitat, 2023).
Health Impacts: Malaria’s Climate-Driven Resurgence
Post-2020 floods, malaria cases in Harare surged 300%, with 12,000 infections in 2023
(MoHCC, 2024). The CCARP’s Vector Control Program is underfunded,
allocating 0.50percapita∗∗vs.the∗∗0.50percapita∗∗vs.the∗∗2.50 WHO
benchmark (WHO, 2023). Spraying campaigns cover only 30% of high-risk wetlands due
to logistical failures (City Health Dept., 2024). Comparatively, Lusaka’s Malaria
Elimination Program cut cases by 75% using AI-driven mosquito mapping (PATH,
2023). Harare’s plan also ignores climate-linked malnutrition: drought reduced maize
yields by 50%, spiking child stunting to 28% (UNICEF, 2024). Integrating health-climate
synergies, as in Ghana’s CHPS+ Initiative, is critical (GHS, 2022).
Gender Inequalities: The Weight of Water-Fetching
In Harare, women risk sexual abuse by carrying water from distant boreholes for 14 hours
every week (UN Women, 2024). Only 12 of the 200 water kiosks that were promised to be
installed in high-risk areas under the CCARP's Gender Policy (2022) were actually
constructed; these were all in politically connected suburbs (Gender Commission, 2024).
Compare this to the Safe Water Access Program in Cape Town, which used metered yard
taps to cut down on women's collection time by 70% (City of Cape Town, 2021).
Additionally, the CCARP ignores period poverty: according to Plan International (2023),
45% of girls miss school during droughts because they lack access to water for hygiene.
Here, improvements could be guided by Uganda's Gender-Responsive Budgeting (GRB)
(UNFPA, 2022).
Despite facing daily climate shocks, 300,000 street vendors in Harare (30% of the workforce)
receive no CCARP support (ZCTU, 2024). Floods destroy 5Mworth of vendors annually, but
the plan’s “GreenMarkets” initiative allocated only 100,000 for shelters (Harare City
Council, 2024). On the other hand, 15,000 vendors benefit from interest-free financing for
weatherproof stalls provided by Dakar's Vendors Resilience Fund (ILO, 2023). Informal
waste pickers, who recycle 40% of Harare's waste but do not have PPE or receive proper
compensation, are likewise disregarded by the CCARP (WIEGO, 2024). A plan for inclusion
is offered by India's National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) (MoHUA, 2023).
Expected Long-Term Outcomes
Significant long-term gains in Harare's socioeconomic development, urban sustainability, and
climatic resilience are anticipated if the CCARP is successful. The main anticipated results
are listed below:
Significant long-term gains in Harare's socioeconomic development, urban sustainability, and
climatic resilience are anticipated if the CCARP is successful. The main anticipated results
are listed below:
1. Enhanced Resilience to Climate Change
Harare will become more resilient to climate shocks like flooding and heat waves. To better
prepare for severe weather disasters, the city will implement early warning systems.
2. Better Water Management and Security
A system of sustainable water supply will lessen the impact of droughts.
Rainwater harvesting and other water-saving techniques will be widely used.
Improved environmental management would reduce pollution and siltation in Lake Chivero,
the primary water source for Harare (EMA, 2023).
3 Less Flooding in Cities
Projects to control stormwater will reduce the likelihood of flash floods. Wetlands like
Monavale Vlei can be restored to assist control water flow and stop urban floods (World
Bank, 2022).
4. Growing Utilisation of Renewable Energy
Adoption of solar energy will lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing reliance on fossil
fuels. There will be an introduction of more energy-efficient transportation solutions, like
non-motorized transportation and electric buses.
5. Sustainable Urban Cleanliness and Waste Management
Landfill garbage will decrease as recycling and composting programs are expanded. Waste-
to-energy initiatives will help the city by producing electricity from biodegradable waste
(UNDP, 2022).
6. Job Creation and Socioeconomic Growth
Climate-smart agriculture, garbage recycling, and the production of solar panels are examples
of green projects that will generate jobs. As the city of Harare is cleaner and more
ecologically friendly, tourism may rise.
7. A more wholesome urban setting
respiratory disease incidence will decrease as a result of improved air quality brought about
by decreasing emissions (EMA, 2023). More green space will improve both physical and
emotional well-being.
In conclusion
In terms of urban sustainability, Harare's Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience Plan
(CCARP) is a daring move. The city is attempting to lessen the worst effects of climate
change by tackling issues including flooding, renewable energy, water security, and
community resilience.
Strong stakeholder participation, ongoing monitoring, and policy enforcement are critical to
the plan's success. When completely implemented, CCARP will enhance public health,
economic prosperity, and general quality of life in addition to shielding Harare from climate
dangers. It might act as a template for other African cities dealing with comparable climate-
related issues.
In summary, Harare's CCARP is a strategy for long-term urban survival and development
rather than merely an environmental plan.
References
1. Chikodzi, D. (2023) Urban resilience in Southern Africa. Harare: University of
Zimbabwe Press.
2. Chanza, N. (2021) Climate governance in Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
3. Mushamba, S., Dube, K. and Nhamo, G. (2023) ‘Policy gaps in Harare’s climate
adaptation’, African Journal of Environmental Science, 15(2), pp. 112–128.
doi:10.1016/j.ajes.2023.05.003.
4. Roberts, D. (2022) ‘Participatory flood management in Durban’, Journal of
Environmental Planning, 45(3), pp. 201–215.
5. Environmental Management Agency [EMA] (2024) State of Harare’s wetlands: 2024
audit report. Harare: EMA.
6. United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] (2022) Zimbabwe climate action
report 2022. Available at: https://www.undp.org/zimbabwe (Accessed: 25 June 2024).
7. World Health Organization [WHO] (2023) Climate change and health in Zimbabwe.
Geneva: WHO.
8. The Herald (2024) ‘Harare’s water crisis deepens’, The Herald, 15 March, p. 12.
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campaigns’, Zimbabwe Independent, 7 July. Available
at: https://www.theindependent.co.zw (Accessed: 26 June 2024).
10. Zimba, P. (2023) ‘Lessons from Lusaka’s pollution levy system’, Proceedings of the
African Urban Resilience Conference, pp. 45–60.
11. Moyo, T. (2024) Gender and water access in Harare’s informal settlements [PhD
thesis]. University of Zimbabwe.
12. Transparency International Zimbabwe (2024) Corruption in climate funds. Available
at: https://www.tizim.org (Accessed: 27 June 2024).
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of Harare.
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