News / National
Heavy rains bring widespread flooding in Bulawayo
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Heavy rains have caused widespread flooding in Bulawayo, affecting homes and roads across the city. Suburbs such as Entumbane and Old Lobengula have borne the brunt of the downpour, with residents and motorists struggling to cope with the impact.
In Entumbane, several houses were flooded, with reports indicating that some residents refused to open weep holes in their boundary walls, exacerbating water accumulation in their properties.
Meanwhile, in Old Lobengula suburb, flooding near Nyamande Primary School disrupted traffic on a major road connecting to Njube suburb. Vehicles faced mechanical problems navigating the waterlogged stretch, with some stalling altogether.
The city's poor drainage system has been cited as the primary cause of the flooding, with water struggling to flow freely along blocked or insufficient channels.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) had issued an advisory last week warning of heavy rains, thunderstorms, and hailstorms due to a low-pressure system moving westward from the Mozambican Channel.
"This system is expected to continue moving westward across the eastern and southern parts of Zimbabwe. Thunderstorms and rain are expected over Mashonaland East, Manicaland, and Masvingo on Saturday, 8th February 2025, and in Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Masvingo, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, and the Midlands provinces from Sunday, 9th February 2025, until Tuesday, 11th February 2025," the MSD stated.
The department has urged the public to exercise caution, especially when crossing flooded roads or rivers, and to remain vigilant during thunderstorms.
While the heavy rains have caused significant disruptions in urban areas, they are a welcome relief for farmers across Zimbabwe who had endured a dry spell over the past two weeks. The country is currently experiencing a La Niña weather pattern, expected to bring normal to above-normal rainfall for the season.
Local authorities in Bulawayo have yet to respond with immediate measures to address the flooding, but residents are calling for urgent upgrades to the city's drainage infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In Entumbane, several houses were flooded, with reports indicating that some residents refused to open weep holes in their boundary walls, exacerbating water accumulation in their properties.
Meanwhile, in Old Lobengula suburb, flooding near Nyamande Primary School disrupted traffic on a major road connecting to Njube suburb. Vehicles faced mechanical problems navigating the waterlogged stretch, with some stalling altogether.
The city's poor drainage system has been cited as the primary cause of the flooding, with water struggling to flow freely along blocked or insufficient channels.
"This system is expected to continue moving westward across the eastern and southern parts of Zimbabwe. Thunderstorms and rain are expected over Mashonaland East, Manicaland, and Masvingo on Saturday, 8th February 2025, and in Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Masvingo, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, and the Midlands provinces from Sunday, 9th February 2025, until Tuesday, 11th February 2025," the MSD stated.
The department has urged the public to exercise caution, especially when crossing flooded roads or rivers, and to remain vigilant during thunderstorms.
While the heavy rains have caused significant disruptions in urban areas, they are a welcome relief for farmers across Zimbabwe who had endured a dry spell over the past two weeks. The country is currently experiencing a La Niña weather pattern, expected to bring normal to above-normal rainfall for the season.
Local authorities in Bulawayo have yet to respond with immediate measures to address the flooding, but residents are calling for urgent upgrades to the city's drainage infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Source - The Chronicle
