Abstract:
The article explores and discusses coping strategies that dwellers in Harare's
periurban areas are adopting to respond to pressures that are being induced on
them by climate change. It is against the background that peri-urban areas in
cities in developing countries, predominantly those in Sub-Saharan Africa, have
experienced a rapid economic, social and ecological transformation in recent
times. The article
plugs the gap in the literature that there has been
proportionally sparse scientific work on climate change adaptation done in other
sub-regions of the African continent, primarily those that are somewhat less
developed and more susceptible. It is a critical challenge for decision-makers to
adopt strategies that are suitable concerning climate change adaptation in
African cities. There is limited in-depth analysis of what Southern African cities
are doing to cope with the impacts of climate change. For peri-urban areas to
adapt to climate change, they need to get access to weather forecasts, education
and training and embrace new technologies that must be available. It is,
therefore, recommended that preparedness for life threatening events like violent
storms, floods and droughts is critical in reducing the vulnerability of the peri
urban inhabitants.
