Death toll from rainfall-induced disasters rises to 109

DESPITE numerous warnings, the number of people dying from drowning, lightning strikes and being swept away by flooded rivers continues to surge, with the death toll now standing at 109, up from 79 last week.

In its latest report compiled on Monday, the Department of Civil Protection Unit (DCPU) said 8 295 households have been adversely affected, with 334 houses and 236 schools across the country badly damaged.

Manicaland Province continues to record the highest number of fatalities, with 36 people having died so far since the start of the 2025/26 rainfall season. It is followed by Mashonaland West with 19 deaths, while 16 people have died in Matabeleland South.

Harare Metropolitan Province has the highest number of affected households at 5 093, followed by Matabeleland South with 1 600, while Manicaland has recorded 510 affected households.

“Owing to the incessant rains, the Department of Civil Protection is overwhelmed with response to incidents. The country has witnessed loss of lives, livelihoods and property; infrastructure damage; incidents of drowning and marooning of people in flooded rivers; cases of mine collapse; landslides; lightning incidents, among others. Critical infrastructure damaged includes roads and bridges, schools, health facilities, houses, farm dams and irrigation schemes,” said the CPU in its report.

Each year, the Department coordinates the review of the National Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan in preparation for the rainfall season, and earlier this year it was revealed that for the current season, a total of US$96 178 635 is required to fully fund implementation of the 2025/26 National Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan.

“To date, the Department of Civil Protection has received US$3 million and allocated US$30 000 per province for response to incidents. Each province has also been allocated 50 metric tonnes of maize grain for the same purpose,” said the CPU.