mbulelo smpofu
Leonard Ncube, leonard.ncube@chronicle.co.zw
FARMERS in Hwange District are pinning their hopes on rain expected in parts of the country this week, due to Cyclone Chido.
Although the tropical storm is not expected to wreak havoc in the country as it is dissipating, it is expected to bring heavy rains.
Farmers in the district have said they will continue to prepare land for planting in anticipation of receiving rain this week despite the prolonged heatwave affecting the country.
In separate interviews, farmers said many had prepared their land and dry-planted, but there has been no rain so far.
Most parts of the country, including Hwange and Matabeleland North as a whole, have been experiencing very high temperatures, in some cases exceeding 40 degrees Celsius.
No meaningful rain has been received so far, and the majority of crops are yet to germinate.
Mr Elias Muzamba, a farmer from the Woodlands resettlement area outside Victoria Falls, said farmers still have hope for better rains.
“We prepared land, and many people prepared plots using the conservation farming method and planted, but nothing germinated because we received no rain. The fear is that there could be another drought, especially if it doesn’t rain this week.
“So our hope now is to strengthen our borehole and irrigation systems so that we can at least irrigate. Our main concern now is livestock because there is no grass at all,” said Mr Muzamba.
Woodlands is one of Hwange District’s prime farming areas, alongside Masuwe, Breakfast, Matetsi, and Lubangwe resettlement areas.
While farmers have been encouraged to grow drought-resistant small grains, farmers in these areas mostly grow maize because their soils are conducive to the crop.
Mr Christopher Ndlovu, another farmer from Matetsi, said the heat has been unbearable.
“People prepared land for planting and dry-planted because there has been no rain. So everyone is waiting for the rain with the hope that it will come this week. If the heatwave persists beyond this week, we fear all hope will be lost, and we will only need rain for grazing pastures and water unless the seasons have changed,” said Mr Ndlovu, popularly known as Soweto.
He said livestock are surviving on tree leaves because there is no grass for grazing.
Mrs Nyaladzo Chuma from Railway Farm in Lubangwe said farmers continue to check the sky, hoping the heavens will open.
“Each time clouds build, there are always strong winds that disturb them, and it ends up not raining. So it remains very hot, and no crops have germinated as we hope for rain soon,” she said.
The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) this week warned that Tropical Cyclone Chido, which has caused flash flooding in coastal areas of Mozambique and Malawi with destructive winds exceeding 200 km/h and heavy rains of up to 30mm per hour, is no longer a threat to Zimbabwe.
The MSD said the remnants of residual moisture should combine with moisture from the usual Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone and bring rainfall over Zimbabwe this week. This is expected to result in moderate rainfall drifting southward along the border of Zimbabwe and Mozambique, reaching the south-eastern Gonarezhou and Chiredzi areas by Wednesday, with its final effects dissipating over the Limpopo Valley by Thursday and Friday.
“Thus, the impact of Chido in Zimbabwe may not be as severe as in other regions like Madagascar, Comoros, Mozambique, and Malawi,” said the MSD.
The MSD said further weather influence over Zimbabwe is projected to come from the cloud band moving in from the west, affecting both Matabeleland provinces.
“This should result in widespread thunderstorms throughout the week from Monday to Sunday. Despite the anticipation of heavy rainfall exceeding 50mm in provinces like Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, southern parts of Matabeleland North, Midlands, and Masvingo, the risk of flooding is low following a recent dry spell.
“However, the heat experienced in Zimbabwe over much of last week could potentially lead to these storms being violent, with lightning, strong winds, and hailstorms in certain areas. Provinces of particular concern include Mashonaland East, Manicaland, Masvingo, Matabeleland South, Bulawayo Metropolitan, and the southern parts of Midlands,” explained the MSD. — @ncubeleon
Online Reporter
