Sidumisile Mabena
Mthokozisi Ncube
Bulawayo has received 525 millimetres of rainfall so far this rainy season, a figure that already matches the city’s long-term seasonal average, according to the Meteorological Services Department (MSD).
Meteorologist Mr Baba Maketa said the amount of rain recorded is significant, especially considering that the season is still in January.
“The 525mm is a big value, considering that we are still in January. It is almost equivalent to the long-term average rainfall, yet we are only in the middle of the season,” Mr Maketa said.
The update comes against the backdrop of earlier reports by Zimpapers, which indicated that most parts of the country had been receiving normal to above-normal rainfall this season, raising hopes for improved agricultural output while also increasing concerns over flooding and infrastructure damage.
Mr Maketa said Bulawayo is expected to experience mostly sunny conditions over the next week, providing a temporary pause after weeks of persistent rainfall.
“This is just a pause. We are still far from the end of the rainy season,” he said, cautioning residents not to assume that the rains are over.
On the impact of the heavy rainfall on water supplies, Mr Maketa said the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) would be best placed to comment on dam levels and water availability, as the Meteorological Services Department focuses strictly on weather monitoring and forecasting.
When asked about possible health and infrastructure risks associated with the heavy rains, Maketa said such assessments fall outside the department’s mandate and should be handled by professionals in the health and infrastructure sectors.
However, he encouraged local authorities, road agencies, and communities to take advantage of the brief dry spell.
“They should use the break to resuscitate damaged infrastructure and patch potholes. Farmers can also take advantage of the pause to do weeding and other tasks that were halted due to the incessant rains,” he said.
Meteorologists have consistently warned that while favourable rainfall is beneficial for agriculture, communities should remain alert to weather-related risks as the rainy season progresses.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) recently forecast that Zimbabwe is likely to experience normal to above-normal rainfall during the 2025/26 season, with La Niña conditions expected to bring widespread rain that could benefit water resources, agriculture and cropping activities.
Earlier reports from February 2025 noted that Bulawayo’s water supply dams had reached 50 per cent capacity with 26 per cent inflows since the onset of the rainy season, prompting authorities to recommission previously decommissioned dams.
Last year’s rainfall was also described as significant, with the MSD indicating that heavy rainfall and widespread thunderstorms eased some farmers’ concerns as atmospheric moisture increased across the country.
In addition, government preparations for rainy-season disasters were documented, with authorities on high alert for heavy rainfall exceeding 50 mm in several provinces and warning the public about flash floods, hazardous road conditions and the importance of precautionary measures.
Online Reporter