2026 Zimbabwe floods
| Date | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Cause | Heavy rainfall |
| Deaths | 100+ |
The 2026 Zimbabwe floods were a series of floods and other rain-related disasters that affected Zimbabwe during the 2025–26 rainy season. Heavy rains caused rivers and streams to overflow in several parts of the country, leaving communities cut off, damaging roads and bridges, flooding homes and schools, and causing deaths. There have been reports of 70 deaths and approximately 250,000 people affected.[1]
Background
Zimbabwe's 2025–26 rainy season brought repeated periods of heavy rainfall. As rivers filled and dams reached high levels, several communities faced flooding and dangerous travelling conditions.
The floods did not affect the country in exactly the same way everywhere. Some areas experienced flooded roads and bridges, while others suffered from collapsed houses, overflowing rivers or people becoming trapped by rising water.
Manicaland was among the provinces with the highest number of deaths. By January 30, it had recorded 36 deaths, followed by Mashonaland West with 19 and Matabeleland South with 16. Harare Metropolitan Province, meanwhile, had the highest number of affected households, with 5,093 reported at that time[2].
Damage
Widespread rains and flash floods continued across Southern Africa since mid-December 2025.[3] On 4 January 2026, heavy rains triggered flooding in the Dumbujena Street, Mbare, New Canaan and Highfield areas of Harare.[4] The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) issued flood warnings.[5] On 13 January 2026, Harare City Council warned residents to leave the central business district.[6] In March 2026, floods swept away the Jeka-Chegato Bridge across the Mwenezi River in Mberengwa North District.[7] The initensity of the floods was linked to climate change.[8] 237 schools have been damaged.[9]
References
- ↑ "Overall Green Flood in Zimbabwe from 01 Jan 2026 01:00 UTC to 03 Jan 2026 01:00 UTC". www.gdacs.org. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ↑ "Death toll from rain-related incidents rises to109 nationwide". 2026-08-27. Retrieved 2026-08-27.
- ↑ "Southern Africa: Heavy Rains and Floods Flash Update No. 2 (27 January 2026) | OCHA". www.unocha.org. 2026-01-27. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ↑ DANIEL, SHARON ZEBRA and Kenneth Nyangani and GRACIOUS. "70 dead as rains wreak havoc". NewsDay. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ↑ "Zinwa issues flood warning". Zimbabwe Situation. 2026-01-02. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ↑ Ndoro, Timothy (2026-01-13). "Leave The CBD Early: City Council Warns Residents As Floods Swamp Harare". iHarare News. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ↑ "Floods wash away key Mberengwa bridge, thousands stranded". Bulawayo24 News. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
- ↑ "Flood disaster linked to climate change hits Zimbabwe". thegranite.co.zw. 16 March 2026.
- ↑ "Floods Kill 134 In Zimbabwe as Rains Continue to Ravage Communities". ZimEye. 2026-03-19. Retrieved 2026-04-19.