Mnangagwa declares state of disaster after Masvingo hailstorm strips roofs from 8,500 homes
MASVINGO — President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a State of Disaster after a powerful hailstorm tore through Masvingo, damaging thousands of homes, public facilities and businesses, while flash floods swept through parts of the city.
The storm hit on the evening of Monday, October 5, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and large hailstones. By the following day, assessments showed the scale of the damage extended well beyond the roofs ripped from homes: windows were smashed, vehicles damaged, electricity lines and transformers brought down, and key city services disrupted.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the declaration covered areas struck by the storm. “Following the catastrophic and severe hailstorm that struck Masvingo Province on the evening of Monday, 5 October 2026, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr Mnangagwa, has declared a State of Disaster within the affected areas.”
The government’s preliminary assessment put the number of households whose roofs were completely blown off at about 8,500. Of 17,000 households assessed, around 90 per cent had shattered windowpanes, leaving residents exposed to the weather at the start of the rainy season.
A separate tally from the Civil Protection Unit recorded about 13,500 affected households in Mucheke, Rujeko and Victoria Ranch, where homes had damage to roofs, windows or perimeter walls. The figures reflect damage being counted across different areas and categories as officials continued their assessment. An initial city update, issued in the hours after the storm, had reported more than 60 houses with roofs lost before the wider assessment was available.
The damage was also visible on streets and in yards. Dozens of vehicles had broken windscreens, while solar panels, sliding gates and other household installations were damaged. Some cars were dented by hailstones. Heavy rain after 5pm caused flash flooding in several parts of Masvingo, adding water damage to homes and property already exposed by missing roofs and broken windows.
Masvingo Mayor Aleck Tabe said families had been left without protection from the elements. “The extent of the damage is significant and deeply distressing. Most concerning is that several families have been left with their homes exposed to the elements tonight,” he said in an update to residents.
Mucheke Hall and Rujeko Hall were opened to accommodate affected families and provide temporary storage for furniture and belongings. Government teams later established additional temporary shelter at lodges belonging to the District Development Fund and at Maud Muzenda Training Centre. Mucheke Hall was also set up as an evaluation centre for people affected by the storm.
Residents who need assistance were asked to register at the Masvingo District Development Coordinator’s office. The Civil Protection Unit was working with government departments and relief partners, including the Red Cross and Christian Care, as officials assessed damage and urgent needs. Provincial Minister of State Ezra Chadzamira said the registration process would help establish losses and organise support.
“We assessed some of the affected places in the city with a team comprising JOC and CPU, and we have opened temporary shelters for those left homeless while quantification of damages is ongoing to make sure those affected get compensation,” Chadzamira said. “We are calling upon all those affected by the hailstorm to register at the Masvingo District Development Coordinator’s office so that they get assistance.”
The storm damaged facilities across education, health, public administration and transport. Great Zimbabwe University’s Mucheke Campus, Masvingo Polytechnic, Masvingo Teachers College and Maud Muzenda Training Centre were among the institutions affected. Other damaged sites included the Passport Office, Grain Marketing Board, Chiefs Hall, the Veterinary Office, the District Development Coordinator’s Office, ZIMRE Building, Masvingo Urban Vocational Training Centre, Runyararo Clinic’s maternity ward, Masvingo Airport and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s provincial office.
Great Zimbabwe University postponed its 20th graduation ceremony, which had been due to take place on October 7, until October 23 after the venue was damaged. The university also suspended lectures until Monday, October 12, while repairs were carried out at affected learning facilities. Schools across the city were also disrupted, with many pupils staying home the day after the storm.
Electricity infrastructure suffered extensive damage. Fallen power lines and damaged transformers left parts of Masvingo without power from Monday night. The outage affected water-pumping systems as well as municipal drainage and sewer networks, creating an urgent challenge for residents and emergency teams.
Garwe said the government had mobilised resources and called on public agencies, businesses and development partners to support relief work. “The Government remains fully committed to ensuring that no person and no place is left behind as we rebuild and restore normalcy,” he said.
Chadzamira said electricity crews were working to restore supply. “We are aware of the power supply situation, which is very bad after the hailstorm damaged power lines and transformers, resulting in the ensuing blackout. But ZESA teams are working flat out to restore electricity, and very soon affected areas will have power,” he said.
Provincial Civil Protection Unit spokesperson Rodgers Irimayi said initial estimates suggested about 67,500 people had been affected in Masvingo City. “To date, about 13 500 households in Mucheke, Rujeko and Victoria Ranch have been recorded as being affected through damage to windows, perimeter walls and roofs,” he said. “Our initial estimates show that about 67 500 people were affected in Masvingo City, but luckily we did not record any fatalities.”
The number of people injured had not been established. Irimayi said: “We have unconfirmed reports of some people who were injured by broken glass windows and flying sheets from damaged roofs, but we have not yet established the exact number.”
The Masvingo disaster follows a severe period of flooding elsewhere in Zimbabwe earlier in 2026. By late January, more than 100 people had died in rain-related incidents across the country, nearly 32,350 people had been affected, and hundreds of homes, schools and health facilities had been damaged. The Masvingo storm has so far been reported without fatalities, but it has again put shelter, essential services and safe access to facilities under pressure as the rainy season begins.
The Meteorological Services Department said isolated thunderstorms could occur in parts of the country, with downpours expected in Rusape, Nyanga and Mutare on Wednesday, October 7. Its deputy director for Public Weather Services, Isaac Masawana, said: “For Wednesday, we do not expect much in terms of rainfall activity, but in Manicaland we expect Rusape, Nyanga and Mutare to experience downpours. Some thundershowers can, however, be experienced here and there in some parts of the country. Clear skies are expected across the country on Thursday.”
Officials also warned residents to rely on weather information issued through official channels after a safety alert circulated online that the department said it had not issued. Masawana said: “We also saw the communication. It did not come from us. When we issue an advisory, it should have our logo, and anything that does not have our logo is not ours.”
For Masvingo residents, the immediate work is to secure damaged homes, find temporary shelter and restore electricity and water-related services. Government assessments and relief operations are continuing, with public agencies and partner organisations working to identify families needing urgent assistance and repair damage to homes and public infrastructure.