The government is planning to give traditional leaders, chiefs, headmen, and village heads the power to fine people who ignore warnings about crossing or attempting to cross flooded rivers.
This comes after 79 people have died and 61 others have been injured since the start of the 2025/26 rainy season in October.
In an interview with state media on Wednesday, 21 January, Nathan Nkomo, Chief Director of the Department of Civil Protection, said consultations are ongoing.
The aim is to give traditional leaders the authority to punish anyone in their area who ignores safety warnings from the authorities. Said Nkomo:
“It is rather unfortunate that we have people who continue to disregard danger warnings from authorities, and as such, we are in consultations with our principals with a view to having our traditional leaders empowered to fine anyone in their jurisdiction who does not take heed of these warnings.
“We cannot afford to be losing precious lives in a way that can be clearly avoided.”
As of Tuesday, 20 January 2026, ten villagers had been stranded for four days on an island in the Save River at Mahenye Village, Ward 23, Chipinge District.
Chipinge District Development Coordinator William Mashava said that similar problems occurred in 2025, when villagers ignored warnings not to farm on that land.
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