Harare, (New Ziana) — Harare mayor, Jacob Mafume on Wednesday expressed solidarity with the City of Masvingo following the devastating hailstorm that damaged homes, buildings and cars in the city on Monday.
In a statement issued in his capacity as the president of the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ), Mafume said he would help coordinate support for the Masvingo victims of the hailstorm.
“I have received with shock and dismay the sad news of a devastating hail storm that damaged homes, buildings and cars in the City of Masvingo. In my capacity as the President of the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe and on behalf of the City of Harare and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to express solidarity with the Masvingo City Council following the devastation caused by the hailstorm,” he said.
Mafume said UCAZ and the City of Harare will coordinate support for Masvingo’s emergency response.
“We are joining hands to coordinate support for Masvingo City Council’s emergency response through UCAZ and the City of Harare’s Public Safety Division so as to assist in the best way possible so that normalcy can be retained as soon as possible. We shall remain guided and led by the Ministry of Local Government’s Civil Protection Unit in all our efforts,” he said.
He said UCAZ and the City of Harare stand ready to assist the people of Masvingo as they recover and rebuild, and called on entities, individuals and churches to join hands in rebuilding the city.
“We also call upon various entities, individuals and churches to join hands in the rebuilding of Masvingo as they seek to restore all services to the residents of Masvingo,” he said.
Following the severe hailstorm in Masvingo, President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster within the affected areas in accordance with Section 27(1) of the Civil Protection Act (Chapter 10:06).
According to preliminary assessments, approximately 8,500 households had their roofs completely blown off, while out of 17,000 households assessed about 90 percent sustained shattered windowpanes.
Key institutions severely hit include Great Zimbabwe University (Mucheke Campus), Masvingo Polytechnical College, Masvingo Teachers College, the Passport Office, Grain Marketing Board and several government offices, while business centres, power infrastructure and water systems were extensively damaged.
The Great Zimbabwe University postponed its 20th graduation ceremony, which had been scheduled for Wednesday 7 October 2026, to Friday 23 October 2026 after the storm caused severe damage to the graduation venue and surrounding infrastructure.
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