Cyclones expected to hit Southern Africa….Zimbabwe gears up disaster management systems

THE Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has activated its disaster management systems, from national to grassroots levels, in anticipation of several cyclones that are projected to hit Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries as the 2025/26 rainy season commences.

Every year, the Government, through the CPU – the country’s disaster management agency that includes various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Defence Forces, Police, Zimbabwe Red Cross, development partners and non-governmental organisations – comes up with a contingency plan before the rainfall season.

The contingency plan is aimed at dealing with weather-induced hazards such as cyclones, floods, and heat waves, among others, to deal effectively with the effects of climate change.

It also gives impetus to efforts to contain natural disasters that affected the country in the past, particularly in low-lying areas.

On Wednesday, stakeholders met at a local Bulawayo hotel for a Multi Contingency Plan Review workshop.

CPU director Mr Nathan Nkomo said projections by the Meteorological Services Department and regional weather forecasters have predicted that several cyclones could hit the SADC region and the Government was not taking chances.

“One of the presentations at the workshop was from MSD, which together with regional weather forecasters, predicted a total of nine cyclones to affect parts of the southern region of the continent, but only six are predicted to be felt in the SADC region,” he said.

“Cyclones typically affect Zimbabwe between February and March when the country receives the highest amount of rain so the Minister of Local Government and Public Works has directed CPU to activate all its disaster management system from the national level down to grassroots level.

Environmental Management Agency
“All line ministries that are responsible for disaster management are also in sync with CPU’s multi-contingency plan for the 2025/26 rainfall season,” said Mr Nkomo.

Mr Nkomo said disaster management demands a multi sectoral approach that is developed to prepare and adequately respond to a multiplicity of hazards that include tropical cyclones, riverine flooding, flash floods, landslides, heat waves, severe thunderstorms, hailstorms, fires, and human and animal epidemics, water-borne diseases, crop pests, strong winds, mid-season dry spells, mine accidents, as well as road traffic accidents.

“For instance EMA must come with a disaster response plan that ensures that the environment does not bear the brunt of the aftermath of a disaster such floods or a fire,” said Mr Nkomo.

“If there is an outbreak of foot and mouth in any part of the country, then it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture (Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development) to give out the early warning systems,” he said.

Addressing delegates at the workshop, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, said disaster risk is no longer about reacting after a disaster occurs.

“It’s about anticipating, preparing, and mitigating the impacts of a hazard. These ultimately lessen the burden posed by hazards and contingency planning is one of the most effective tools we have to minimise the impacts of hazards on people, property, and livelihoods using a sector-wide and whole of Government approach,” he said.

“Sadly, this workshop has been conducted in the backdrop of a recent fatal road accident, which occurred in South Africa on 12 October 2025, claiming 43 lives leaving more than 40 passengers with various degrees of injuries.”
Minister Garwe said the rainfall forecast for 2025/26 indicates that most parts of Zimbabwe are likely to receive normal to above normal rainfall.

“While this projection is encouraging for agriculture and water resources, it also heightens the risk of extreme weather events such as flooding, heavy storms, cyclones, landslides, dry spells and possible disease outbreaks such as cholera and malaria.

“This calls for enhanced preparedness and contingency planning at all levels as this can have devastating impacts on our communities, livelihoods, infrastructure and economy.”