Is Zimbabwe at the risk of another drought?

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 Drought. That's one word all Zimbabweans do not want to hear about. Last year our country was hard hit by an El-Nino, a weather phenomenon that is associated with little rainfall and prolonged dry spells. Unsuspecting farmers were met with a better harvest, as fewer crops were able to yield any produce. More than half of the population were left in need of food aid, and as I am writing the Matabeleland regions are facing serious water shortages that could have serious impacts on people and animals if the right actions are not taken.

Currently, only a few parts of the country have received little rainfall. Heatwaves ravage the country and has destroyed the little green and crops people had planted in anticipation of rain. The rumour on the streets was that there was going to be plentiful rain, but those claims have been replaced with desperate cries and prayers for rain. The traditional rain season in Zimbabwe starts around late October till early April. Since we have approached mid December without any significant rain, a lot of people are beginning to worry.

I for one expressed by displeasure with the Meteorological Dept. of Zimbabwe for not warning people about the impending drought but my concerns were excused.

Today, I came acorss an article in which the World Food Programme (WFP) representatives said they fear that another drought may be coming. To read more on this report, open the link below.

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zimbabwe-risk-another-dry-season-after-el-nino-drought-says-wfp-2024-12-12/ 

Has the government done a poor job at warning its people? I believe so. Climate change is affecting Southern Africa more than any other sub regions and it is now pretty much obvious that the country should have been braced for another drought (if the country was on a continuous monitoring exercise). If the last drought left more than half of the population in need of food aid, how many more will be in need if a drought persists?


My conversation with the Met Dept on X.
#drought #water_scarcity #Zimbabwe. 


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