adminoccur in October.
“This year’s abnormality is occurring at a time when the atmosphere is expected to be cooling as the sun is moving further away from the southern hemisphere,” he said.
Mr Moyo said although a single incident or those that occured in a single year could not be attributed to climate change, there were reasonable suggestions that this season could be one of the many recent extremes whose occurrences have been enhanced by climate change.
“While storms used to occur in the past, the MSD has observed that the strength of the storms’ winds has been on the increase, killing people and destroying property,” he said.
“The disasters have also been affecting new areas which did not experience such incidents in the past.”
Mr Moyo said the size and intensity of the hailstorms have been increasing and sometimes causing flash floods.
Two people were killed in Mberengwa early this month while 244 families were displaced leaving more than 1 200 people without food, shelter and clothing.
In another incident, one person died while scores were injured after a hailstorm swept through Mwenezi and Chiredzi over last weekend.
Most of the people sustained injuries after being hit by flying objects. The hailstorm also left more than 2 000 families homeless.
Crops such as maize, sorghum and millet in areas around Rutenga Growth Point in Mwenezi and Chilonga communal lands in Chiredzi were also destroyed by the hailstorm.
Tobacco growers in different areas such as Wedza, Beatrice and Karoi also lost their crop to hailstorm.
Mr Moyo advised farmers to insure high valued crops to avoid incurring losses in case of hailstorms and heavy thunderstorms.
“People should build robust structures that can withstand such storms and seek shelter in a safe house when such a storm is coming or expected,” said Mr Moyo.
“The public should pay attention to weather warnings and advisories as well as the Civil Protection Unit’s advise.”
The severe droughts and floods that have been experienced in Zimbabwe have been attributed to climate change.
According to experts, it is the developed world’s economic development through the use of fossil fuels, that has led to the current climate change through emissions of greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides. To reduce the effects of climate change, Government is working towards establishing adaptation projects including strengthening of early warning system, disaster preparedness and management, water harvesting and many others.
Online Reporter