By A Correspondent – Climate Action Coalition of Zimbabwe has issued a statement expressing deep concern over the ongoing flooding crisis in Mozambique and the looming threat posed by Tropical Storm Gezani, calling for increased regional cooperation to protect vulnerable communities.
Mozambique has been hit by some of the worst flooding in recent memory following weeks of torrential rains that began in late December 2025. Heavy rain and swollen rivers have inundated large areas, particularly in the central and southern provinces, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and damaging critical infrastructure. The United Nations reports more than half a million people affected, with tens of thousands forced into emergency shelters and major roads, health facilities and bridges destroyed or cut off.

In some flood-affected towns, residents have even reported crocodiles entering urban areas as rivers overflow their banks, heightening dangers for people already struggling with rising waters.

In its statement, the Climate Action Coalition of Zimbabwe urged policymakers and communities across southern Africa to take the unfolding disaster seriously. “The continued loss of life and livelihoods highlights the urgent need for climate resilience and early warning systems,” the coalition said, adding that climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

The coalition’s concerns are amplified by the development of Tropical Storm Gezani, which has strengthened in the South Indian Ocean and is forecast to move from near Mauritius past Madagascar toward the Mozambique Channel. Early forecasts indicate a possible landfall in southern Mozambique around Inhambane and Vilanculos later this week, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, rough seas and a heightened risk of further flooding along the coast and inland.

“With ground already saturated by recent rains, even moderate additional rainfall from Gezani could trigger new flooding and landslides, potentially compounding an already overwhelming humanitarian crisis,” the coalition said. It urged early evacuation planning, strengthened flood defences and regional support to ensure communities can withstand the approaching storm.

Mozambique’s flood disaster comes amid a broader pattern of extreme weather in southern Africa associated with the lingering effects of La Niña, which has brought unusually heavy rainfall to the region and contributed to rivers breaching their banks.

The Climate Action Coalition of Zimbabwe called on government, regional bodies and international partners to step up funding for climate adaptation and disaster response, warning that without decisive action, communities across Mozambique and neighbouring countries could face even greater disasters in the months ahead.

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Twitter: Climate Action Coalition of Zimbabwe