Story by Oleen Ndori
Zimbabwe has been spared from Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi which has left a trail of destruction in Madagascar and Mozambique.
According to the National Risk and Disaster Management Programme of Madagascar (BNGRC), three people have died, while more than seven thousand others have been affected across northern Madagascar.
In Mozambique, the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) reports five fatalities.
Four other people were injured and more than 39 thousand affected while almost three thousand houses were destroyed.
Zimbabwe’s Meteorological Services Department says the country has been spared from the tropical storm.
“Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi did come but did not exactly enter into Zimbabwe. It only affected the northern parts of Madagascar and the northeastern parts of Mozambique, but it returned back to the Mozambican Channel and now it is to the south of Madagascar and it is greatly weakened due to the lower temperatures of the oceans that it is now in.
“When it came in the Mozambican Channel, especially when it was to the northwest of Madagascar, it drew moisture away from Zimbabwe towards itself and this resulted in dryness over the northern and eastern parts of Zimbabwe. At the moment it has passed and it has already gone. We can no longer expect anything from it and currently the rains that we’re experiencing are a result of the normal systems that cause rains in Zimbabwe, that is the ITCZ and cloud bends that always cause rains in Zimbabwe,” said MSD meteorologist, Mr Baba Maketa.
The region has been experiencing increased natural disasters ranging from tropical cyclones and recurrent droughts emanating from the adverse effects of climate change.
