By Staff Reporter
HARARE–Recent flash floods have hit Harare hard, paralysing city activities, submerging streets, waterlogging homes and disrupting essential services.
Residents say the disaster has exposed years of poor planning, neglect and corruption.
The city’s central business district (CBD) has become a daily struggle. Streets are clogged with stagnant water, pedestrians wade through ankle-deep floods, and traffic snarls have become the norm. Public health risks are rising, and accidents are increasingly likely.
“Flooding is a direct result of the lack of competent personnel in the city council to prepare for the rainy season,” said Precious Shumba, director of the Harare Residents Trust.
“The Meteorological Services warned of normal to above-normal rainfall before the arrival of the summer season,” he said.
“If the City of Harare was responsible enough, those rainfall projections should have jolted them into action by systematically unblocking drains, starting with the central business district, Mbare, Glen View, Budiriro, Highfield and Kuwadzana Extension—the recurrent problem areas.
“They were negligent and irresponsible, showing a lack of technical skills and competence to address an environmentally impacting issue.
“Without a plan of action, the Harare City Council will continue to make ad hoc interventions,” added Shumba.
He said most flooding incidents were avoidable, arguing that illegal settlements on wetlands and the rampant illegal and legal sale of stands on open spaces, including infill developments, had worsened the crisis.
“These actions are being executed by corrupt council officials,” Shumba said.
Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume last week blamed littering, blocked drains and poor waste management for worsening the floods.
“Our drainage system must efficiently channel water away,” Mafume said.
“There is a culture of littering in the city which must be addressed,” he added, noting that regular clearing and repair of drains was urgently needed.
Several suburbs, including Glen View, Budiriro, Mbare, Highfield and Kuwadzana Extension, were among the hardest hit, with residential areas inundated by rainwater.
Mafume recently came under the spotlight over controversial remarks in which he urged residents with “nothing to do” in the CBD to leave early. The comments sparked backlash from informal traders, who said they showed a disconnect between leadership and lived realities.
“For us, the evening hours are when business picks up,” said Shamiso Dururu, a trader in the CBD. “If people leave early, we don’t eat.”
Vimbiso Maregedze, a vegetable vendor, added: “Floods or not, this is how we survive. We are here because there are no jobs.”
“Stagnant water poses serious health risks, including cholera and typhoid,” said Stanley Mubvuta, a vendor who sells roasted maize in the CBD.
“If council wants order, they must provide alternative solutions for people to make ends meet.
“Otherwise, statements like this just punish the poor,” he said.
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) said the floods were rooted in structural failure.
“These floods are not merely caused by rainfall,” said CHRA chairperson David Pasipanodya.
“They are a consequence of planning failures, corruption and neglect of drainage infrastructure.”
CHRA warned that building on wetlands is “self-destructive,” as it exacerbates flooding and threatens food and water security. The association called for urgent drainage rehabilitation, integration of environmental planning and strict adherence to the city’s Master Plan.
Without these steps, Harare will remain exposed to climate-related shocks, Pasipanodya warned.
Residents and experts say standing water in the CBD and residential areas is now a growing public health hazard.
Harare faces not only an environmental emergency, but also a looming crisis of water-borne disease outbreaks.