Critical Analysis of the Role of Legislation in Promoting Responsive Social Resilience in Climate Disaster Affected Areas, Focusing on Chipinge District in Zimbabwe

This study critically examines the role of legislation in promoting responsive social resilience in climate disaster affected areas, focusing on Chipinge District in Zimbabwe. Observably, Chipinge District in Zimbabwe is a region severely impacted by Cyclone Idai, a climate disaster that adversely destroyed infrastructure and claimed lives. Consequently, the article interrogates the existing legal and policy framework and its influence regarding Zimbabwe’s preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in the face of recurring climate-induced disasters. Employing a qualitative approach, resultantly the findings revealed that although textual legislation exists, its implementation and impact is limited by poor enforcement, inadequate funding, lack of community awareness and inclusion, and weak institutional coordination. The study concludes that legislation is essential in guiding disaster risk reduction and resilience efforts but must be inclusive, locally informed, and adequately resourced for purpose. Therefore, recommendations from the study include policy reform, capacity building, and the integration of traditional knowledge systems to enhance social resilience in vulnerable communities in general and Chipinge in particular. Furthermore, the study exposed potential areas of further study which include suggested legal reform and capacitation of experts.