WHO IS MONITORING THE WEATHER?

Sir,
 
Allow me space in your widely read newspaper to express my concerns concerning the infrequent weather reports or precautions that could be taken during bad weather.

I have noticed for a while now that there are always newspaper reports the following day that some animals including cattle and goats have been killed by bad weather. This also includes various crops which are destroyed during the heavy rains.

These storms Sir, I have noticed, usually take place after working hours or in the dead of the night. My point before I stray, is that I never hear our weather forecasters warning us of such severe weather conditions. I am an avid listener of the local radio station, but the weather is just too general. For example they say ‘there will be thunderstorms in the high veld (enkhangala) if I am not mistaken’. My gripe is that they are not specific.

How many people know where or what inkhangala is or where the East is? Why can they not be specific about the areas which are expected to be affected by the storm.

In my humble opinion I do not think anyone would be affected if they would be specific and say there would be hailstorms in Mhlambanyatsi or Bhunya or Siphocosini.  I believe they have top-of- the-range equipment to inform us of all these things, but they seem to be content in only informing us of the minimum and maximum temperatures.

My next point is the issue of national warnings. I do not know how many thunderstorms and floods we have had since December into the new year, but all you read about are the reports in the newspapers a day if not two after the disaster has occurred. Why aren’t the forecasters on national radio or TV, if possible, doing Stop Press if possible. I know that in instances such as crops there is really nothing a farmer can do to protect the crops during heavy rain, but surely those who own livestock could make a plan if for some reason they were constantly updated to try and protect their animals.

It is not good enough that we get to hear of the reports from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) in the aftermath as it no longer serves the purpose. I would like to ask our weather watchers to always be on standby and keep the nation informed of any severe weather threats so that we can do all we can to prevent damages especially during these constant power cuts sometimes caused by the extreme weather conditions.

Concerned Parents
Luvuyo, Bhunya


You have raised an issue which has been highlighted a few weeks ago. The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs Emmanuel Dlamini said forecasters were presently working during the normal government hours.

This is because the forecasters registered their grievance that they were not being paid overtime to remain in the office till after hours. The PS said a ministry like that of Public Service had to be engaged in order to address the issue of overtime as this was clearly a 24-hour job.
Ed.                              

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