Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Rainfall Prediction
Meteorological Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Prediction of Rainfall in the Chimanimani District of Zimbabwe and Potential for Community Disaster Preparedness. Pindai M. Sithole1, Moses Chundu2.
1Academic Department, Africa Leadership and Management Academy (ALMA), Harare, Zimbabwe
2Faculty of Business Management Sciences and Economics, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
ABSTRACT: The paper focuses on indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) which people of Chimanimani District of Zimbabwe use to predict rainfall patterns. This is based on a 2019 socio-ecological study conducted in the district. The main objective of the study was to establish the extent of use and efficacy of meteorological IKS for the prediction of rainfall in Chimanimani and to explore the potential contribution of the meteorological IKS in local community disaster preparedness. The study came at the backdrop of a trail of unprecedented human and environmental destruction that occurred in the district following the devastating Cyclone Idai of April of 2019. Despite the existence of IKS and modern weather forecasting tools, the Cyclone seemed to have caught both the community and government unprepared, prompting this study. In depth-interviews and storytelling were conducted with traditional leaders and community elders. A qualitative approach was applied through the use of detailed interviews and focus group discussions to collect meteorological IKS from three communities in the district. Thematic analysis anchored in the interpretive and ontological paradigms was utilized within the realism theory. The meteorological IKS found in the study were classified into five interpretive categories namely vegetation, animals, birds, insects, and cosmology. The study concluded that meteorological IKS are no longer widely used due to a number of factors including inferioritisation and limited documentation. It was noted that the IKS has the potential for incorporation into the community disaster preparedness frameworks.
It is expected that the authors of the papers will bring to fore contemporary issues with an analysis that provides evidence for policy recommendations. This will be the inaugural publication volume and issue of the journal. The call for abstracts is being sought for the following but not limited to these themes:
- Relevance of leadership theories today in promoting good leadership practice.
- Relevance of governance theories today in promoting good governance practice.
- Nexus between leadership and governance.
- Reasons why some leaders fail to lead to achieve the desired societal transformative and sustainable development outcomes.
- A critique on the motivations for leadership positions.
- Leadership or governance practice during pandemic situations like COVID-19.
- Stewardship leadership.
Email abstracts and full papers to:
walter.nyamangodo@cccsea.org and chimbwanda.el@lilian-kokera
