Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has stepped up efforts to protect the country’s communities from climate related disasters with the civil protection structures having been put on high alert while a total of 1,958 evacuation centres have been identified nationwide.
Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe said the Department of Civil Protection has activated disaster-management structures at provincial, district, ward and village levels and is working with meteorological officials to share forecasts and early warnings with communities, Minister Garwe said.
He said the Government has also completed a National Multi-Hazard Contingency Plan for the 2026/2027 rainfall season. The plan has being submitted to Cabinet for consideration and approval, with particular attention to forecast below-normal and erratic rainfall associated with the anticipated El Niño phenomenon.
“Given the anticipated drier conditions, the plan places emphasis on strengthening drought preparedness, food security interventions, early warning, anticipatory action and coordinated humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities,” the Minister said.
The contingency plan is intended to guide preparedness, response and recovery across government and society. The department is prepositioning food and non-food relief supplies in identified disaster-prone districts, while 25 districts have been activated under anticipatory-action initiatives to enable early interventions ahead of expected hazards.
“A total of 1,958 evacuation centres have been identified nationwide for communities that may need safe shelter during disasters. The department is also coordinating with the Meteorological Services Department to monitor weather conditions, issue advisories and disseminate seasonal forecasts to communities,” he said.
Minister Garwe urged local authorities to take practical steps to reduce preventable risks, including unclogging drains, clearing waterways and maintaining roads and bridges. He said local authorities had been directed to allocate at least two percent of their annual budgets to disaster risk management, including planning, preparedness, mitigation, anticipatory action and response.
“Disaster preparedness is not the responsibility of the Department of Civil Protection alone,” he said.
“All stakeholders, particularly local authorities and communities, have a critical role to play in reducing disaster risks and ensuring that emergencies do not escalate into disasters.”
The measures follow a hailstorm that struck Masvingo on 5 October 2026, causing extensive damage to homes, public facilities, businesses, power infrastructure and crops.
After the storm, provincial and district Civil Protection structures were activated and a command centre was established at Masvingo City Council to coordinate response operations.
President Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster under Section 27(1) of the Civil Protection Act [Chapter 10:06], enabling the mobilisation of resources and extraordinary measures.
The response brought together government ministries and agencies, local authorities, development partners, the private sector and other stakeholders.
Multi-sectoral teams assessed damage to homes, schools, health facilities, businesses, public utilities and other infrastructure. Authorities also registered and verified affected households to help target assistance.
Emergency food and non-food items were distributed, while temporary accommodation was made available at Mucheke Hall and other designated evacuation centres for families whose homes were uninhabitable.
Government coordinated efforts to restore electricity and water supplies disrupted by damage to power infrastructure and pumping systems and mobilised resources and building materials for rehabilitation.
Minister Garwe said particular attention was given to people with disabilities, older people, children, child-headed households, people with chronic illnesses and other vulnerable residents. The department also engaged humanitarian organisations, development partners and private-sector stakeholders to help meet relief and recovery needs.
“The response demonstrated the importance of coordinated disaster management and the need to move beyond emergency relief towards sustainable recovery and building back better,” he said.
Preliminary figures indicate that approximately 17,000 households were affected by the hailstorm. Around 8,500 houses had roofs blown off or were severely damaged, while about 90 percent of the households assessed had shattered windowpanes.
The storm also affected 29 schools, five tertiary institutions and five health centres. Forty-eight government housing units and offices were damaged. At Garikayi, Takawira and Tanaiwa markets, 2,060 small-business stalls had their roofs blown off or were completely destroyed.
Agricultural losses included 384 hectares of wheat. Damage to ZESA powerlines is estimated at approximately US$300,000.
Minister Garwe said the power line figure was not a measure of the overall financial cost of the disaster. A consolidated valuation covering residential properties, public infrastructure, businesses, agriculture and other sectors will be produced once a comprehensive assessment has been completed.
