Christopher Mahove
Harare—Climate experts have called for investment in climate-resilient housing, improved settlement planning in flood-prone zones, strengthened early warning systems and anticipatory action, following the Mozambique floods, which they say have exposed Africa’s deepening climate crisis.
They say the Mozambique disaster stands as a stark warning of the cost of inaction and a call for decisive global and regional efforts to protect vulnerable communities from a rapidly changing climate.
Mozambique is reeling from one of its most devastating climate-related disasters in recent years, with nearly 600,000 people affected by widespread flooding triggered by sustained heavy rainfall and emergency water releases from dams.
According to the country’s National Institute for Disaster Management (INGD), water levels in several major river basins have risen above alert thresholds, and the number of affected families continues to climb.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), which is coordinating emergency assistance, has warned that further rainfall is expected in the coming days, raising fears that the situation could worsen.
The human and infrastructure toll has been severe.
With around 90 percent of homes built from traditional earth-based bricks, entire communities have seen houses collapse after prolonged exposure to floodwaters.
Roads, bridges, aqueducts, water supply systems, telecommunications towers and electricity poles have been damaged or destroyed, cutting off access to essential services.
In many rural districts, families are isolated, food supplies are dwindling, and health facilities are struggling to operate as floodwaters disrupt transport and power supplies.
Livelihoods have also been hit hard.
More than 34,000 livestock have been lost in just days, while over 104,600 hectares of farmland have been damaged, affecting nearly 47,300 subsistence farmers.
Small fishing communities along rivers and low-lying coastal areas have reported destroyed boats, nets and storage facilities, compounding the crisis. For many households, these losses represent not only immediate hardship but also the erosion of long-term economic security.
While humanitarian agencies race to provide shelter, food and medical care, the floods highlight a deeper and more troubling reality: climate shocks in Mozambique, and across Africa, are no longer rare or unpredictable events.
They are systemic, compounding and increasingly severe.
Experts say the crisis underscores the urgent need to move beyond reactive disaster response towards scaled, long-term climate adaptation and resilience-building.
Wellington Madumira, national coordinator for Climate Action Network Zimbabwe, said Zimbabwe and the SADC region at large should draw lessons from the disaster in Mozambique and act swiftly to prevent similar tragedies.
“Investing in climate-resilient housing, improved settlement planning in flood-prone zones, strengthened early warning systems and anticipatory action are now essential, not optional. As Mozambique struggles through yet another climate emergency, the unfolding disaster stands as a stark warning of the cost of inaction and a call for decisive global and regional efforts to protect vulnerable communities from a rapidly changing climate,” he said.
Let’s Green the Future executive director, Tendai Moyo, said the recent floods in Mozambique served as a stark reminder of the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters driven by climate change.
He added that there were several lessons Zimbabwe and other African countries could draw from Mozambique’s experience in disaster management and prevention.
He said it was crucial to invest in early warning systems and community education to ensure people received timely information and understood how to respond effectively, noting that Mozambique had made significant strides in this area.
African countries, including Zimbabwe, he said, could build on these efforts by leveraging technology and local knowledge to enhance preparedness.
“The importance of resilient infrastructure cannot be overstated. Our current infrastructure, including housing, often lacks the robustness needed to withstand extreme weather events. This requires urgent attention, with a focus on building codes that integrate climate resilience principles and promote sustainable construction practices,” he said.
Moyo also said it was important to prioritise ecosystem-based adaptation strategies, such as restoring wetlands and forests, which naturally mitigate the impacts of floods.
“Such measures not only protect the environment but also provide economic and social benefits to communities. Collaboration between government, the private sector and local communities is essential in developing and implementing effective disaster management strategies,” he said, adding that by fostering partnerships and sharing resources and expertise, the country could enhance its collective capacity to address the challenges posed by climate change.
According to the Civil Protection Unit, as of January 20, at least 78 people had died in flood-related incidents across Zimbabwe as heavy rains ravaged provinces, particularly Manicaland, which borders Mozambique.