Unpredictable weather raises food security fears in Hwange

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.

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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.

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