UNESCO supports local voices to build climate resilience in Zimbabwe

When Cyclone Idai tore through Chimanimani and much of eastern Zimbabwe in March 2019, it left a trail of destruction that exposed the region’s deep vulnerability to climate change, killing 634 people, affecting over 270,000 individuals and damaging infrastructure worth millions. 

In the wake of this catastrophe, Chimanimani FM, a community radio, was established on 2022, under the World Bank-funded Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project, with support from community members, civil society, and international partners, including UNESCO and UNOPS.

Led by station manager Themba Gata, Chimanimani FM operates 24 hours a day with the support of 30 passionate volunteers, many of whom are survivors of Idai themselves. The station broadcasts in local languages, making complex issues like climate adaptation, early warning systems, and sustainable agriculture accessible and relevant to everyone, from schoolchildren to elderly farmers. Across the district, families huddle around radios that carry them comfort, solidarity, and life-saving guidance.