Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
Since the start of the 2025/26 rainfall season, a total of 50 people have lost their lives, 22 schools and two health facilities have been destroyed and 452 homesteads across the country have been affected.
In its sixth situation report (strep), the Department of Civil Protection Unit said Manicaland province has the highest number of deaths, at 23 while Mashonaland West and Midlands province have reported 12 fatalities each.
Of the 452 homesteads affected, Mashonaland East has 127, Mashonaland Central recorded 97 while Matabeleland North and South have so far seen 15 and nine homesteads affected as a result of the rains.
“Zimbabwe experienced intense rainfall leading to widespread impacts across multiple provinces. The weather advisory issued by Meteorological Service Department in conjunction with the Department of Civil Protection for the period of 5-10 December 2025 indicated that heavy rains, lightning, hailstorm and strong winds were going to be experienced in areas such as Manicaland, Masvingo, Harare Met. Mashonaland East and Central provinces,” reports the CPU.
The Department said on December 7, a heavy storm characterised by heavy rains, strong winds and hailstorms struck Ward 2, 3 in Shamva District. It said the heavy storm caused a heavy impact on both infrastructure ad livelihoods.
One of the most affected institutions was Centre Zimbabwe Africa High School, where the roof of the double-storey classroom block was completely blown off. The force of the storm also compromised the structural integrity of the upper floor, shattered windows and destroyed ceiling materials and teaching aids.
“Two children in ward 5 have been hospitalized after a building fell on them and are in urgent need of medical support and 18 houses alongside critical infrastructure such as toilets, kitchens, fowl runs and churches were destroyed with roofs also being blown off resulting in the disruption daily lives and several family displacements,” said the Department.
It further reported that livelihoods were destroyed including livestock (goats and chickens), maize and tobacco which poses a threat to household income and food security in the affected wards.
In Mangwe district, Matabeleland South a strong hail storm destroyed two classroom blocks at Valukhalo Secondary School but no one was injured.
“Wards 6,7,14 and 16 in Mhondoro-Ngezi district experienced heavy rains on the night of December 2 and the rains left eight families in ward 6, 16 families in ward 7, 12 families in ward 14 and 15 families in ward 16’s houses damaged including their food reserves, clothing items and important national documents. The district CPU is appealing for assistance on tents, food items and about 160 litres of fuel for further assessments of the affected wards and offering some counselling to the affected families,” said the CPU.
