By Nokuthaba Dlamini
Villagers in Hwange district, in Matabeleland North province, say they fear food shortages after unpredictable weather disrupted this year’s cropping season and damaged fields.
Residents across several communities described a season of extremes, prolonged heat followed by persistent heavy rains, which they say made it difficult to plant, manage and monitor crops.
Nomsa Dube, from Mvutu, said the rains came late and in excess.
“We waited for the right time to plant, but when the rains finally came, they were too heavy. Our fields were flooded, and we could not even go in to weed or check on the crops,” she said.
In Chimbombo, Sipho Ncube said inconsistent rainfall affected germination.
“Some of the seeds just rotted in the soil because of too much water. Then when the sun came out, it was too hot. We are not expecting a good harvest this year,” he said.
Thandiwe Moyo, from Matetsi, said saturated fields made it nearly impossible to manage crops.
“We could not monitor our crops properly. The fields were always wet, and some crops just failed before they could mature. We have some crops that will be harvested, especially those planted in November, but it will not be sufficient,” she said.
In Lubangwe, Bekezela Sibanda said families were already bracing for a difficult year.
“We are worried about food. Last season was not good, and now this one is worse. If nothing is done, many families will struggle,” he said.
Another villager from Chidobe, Vimbai Mudenda, said changing weather patterns had made farming increasingly uncertain.
“The weather is no longer predictable. We used to know when to plant, but now it’s confusing. Too much rain is just as bad as no rain,” she said.
The concerns come amid wider warnings from climate and food security monitoring bodies that Zimbabwe has experienced more frequent extreme weather events in recent years, including flooding and episodes of excessive rainfall. Such conditions can lead to waterlogged soils and nutrient leaching, significantly reducing crop yields.
Agricultural experts say saturated soils deprive crops of oxygen and wash away essential nutrients, affecting plant growth and survival.
Responding to the concerns, the Deputy Provincial Director for Agritex in Matabeleland North, Thulani Ndlovu, said a nationwide crop assessment was under way to determine the extent of the damage.
“Crop assessment started yesterday, so all national field officers are on the ground. That is when we will have estimates of our yields,” Mr Ndlovu said.
“We also want to check on our January planting round and the general crop condition for all crops planted from November to date. Most of the issues are based on rainfall. Too much rainfall comes with its own challenges, leaching and waterlogging, which means you lose a lot of nutrients as water washes away fertilisers.”
He said some crops had failed entirely due to excessive rains, adding that findings from the assessment were expected before the end of April.