'Matabeleland, Masvingo regions face flooding'

Floods recorded in parts of Masvingo and the Matabeleland provinces since the onset of the 2025–26 rainy season have claimed lives and caused damage to homes and schools, according to the latest Famine Early Warning Systems Network (Fews Net) report released last month.

Fews Net said flash floods occurred in November in several areas of Masvingo and Matabeleland, with some incidents resulting in fatalities and destruction of property. "In November, flash floods occurred in Masvingo and Matabeleland. They resulted in deaths in some cases and damage to a small number of homes and schools," the report noted.

The heavy rains have also disrupted artisanal and small-scale mining activities, which many poor households rely on as a key source of income, particularly during the December to February lean season. Fews Net said flooding and waterlogged ground have created dangerous conditions in mining areas, prompting authorities to issue repeated safety warnings.

"Many poor households do some artisanal, small-scale mining each year as an additional income source, especially during the December to February lean season," the report said. "Authorities are issuing warnings that mining can be especially dangerous this year due to continued risk of floods and dangerous conditions in some mining areas because of soaked ground."

The report recalled that during the previous lean season, floods killed several miners, underscoring the heightened risks associated with informal mining during periods of heavy rainfall. With the ground already saturated this season, Fews Net warned that flooding between December and March is likely to be more severe than is typically experienced.

While southern parts of the country are expected to be most affected, the report said flooding could also occur elsewhere, with artisanal and small-scale mining activities likely to be disrupted in some areas. This is expected to negatively affect household incomes that depend on mining as a coping strategy.

"Following some fatalities early this rainy season, authorities have warned of the risks associated with such activities where no proper safety measures are available," Fews Net said. "This is likely to reduce the number of people engaging in small-scale mining and the amount of time they devote to this income source, decreasing incomes."

The report comes against a backdrop of recurring weather-related disasters in the region. In November last year, a hailstorm triggered flash floods in Gwanda town and surrounding areas, damaging homes, property and infrastructure. Districts such as Tsholotsho and Binga in Matabeleland North are also known to be prone to flooding during the rainy season, raising continued concern over the impact of extreme weather on vulnerable communities.