Political Interference In Zim Weather Forecast
17/11/2010 14:41:00
Harare, November 17, 2010 – A senior government environmentalist and
meteorologist has admitted that there is heavy political interference and
censorship of the weather forecasts in Zimbabwe before it is issued out to
the public.
He said this was because this information was seen as sensitive.
This information is moderated if I may say,” Climate Change Zimbabwe office
Director Washington Zhakata told journalists attending an on-going five day
Climate Change workshop in Harare.
Journalists had asked Zhakata the reason why the Meteorological Services
Department (MET) had over the years denied of possible droughts which would
later be experienced despite them having told the nation that the country
was expecting normal to above normal rainfall every year.
Sources said the MET Department gave daily weather updates to cabinet before
producing the information to
the public.
Failure by the Meteorological Services department to give accurate in
formation to the public has over the years misled farmers and resulted in
them failing to appropriately plan.
Zhakata said the other reason for inaccurate weather forecasting was caused
by brain drain.
“As you know all the most experienced guys left during the peak of the
economic crisis leaving the department with inexperienced human resources,”
Zhakata said.
Obsolete weather equipment is reportedly affecting the country’s weather
forecasting.