COPING STRATEGIES BYPERI-URBAN DWELLERS IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURES INDUCED BY CLIMATE CHANGE IN HARARE PERI-URBAN EAST, ZIMBABWE

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.