Cyclone Gezani Spares Zimbabwe as Mozambique Grapples with Flood Devastation
Tropical Cyclone Gezani has veered away from direct landfall in Mozambique and will bypass Zimbabwe entirely, though the storm compounds a humanitarian crisis that has already displaced nearly 700,000 people across the region.
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Tropical Cyclone Gezani has shifted course away from southern Africa's coastline, sparing Zimbabwe from direct impact while offering Mozambique a narrow reprieve after weeks of catastrophic flooding that has left nearly 700,000 people affected across the country.
The Meteorological Services Department of Zimbabwe confirmed on Thursday that the cyclone, currently active in the southwest Indian Ocean, will not enter Zimbabwean territory. "As of this morning, Tropical Cyclone Gezani will not enter Zimbabwe, although the system is expected to influence weather conditions across the country," the department stated, indicating that while the nation will avoid the cyclone's destructive core, residual weather effects remain possible.
The announcement brings relief to a region still recovering from previous storm systems, though meteorologists continue monitoring the cyclone's trajectory closely. Zimbabwe's positioning inland has historically provided some buffer against direct cyclone strikes, unlike its coastal neighbour Mozambique, which bears the brunt of Indian Ocean storm systems with devastating regularity.
Mozambique Narrowly Avoids Direct Strike
In Mozambique, the National Meteorology Institute (INAM) reported Saturday that Cyclone Gezani had veered parallel to the southern province of Inhambane before drifting back into the Indian Ocean. Speaking in Maputo, INAM director-general Aderito Aramuge confirmed that forecasters had earlier warned the system could lash coastal parts of Inhambane, prompting emergency preparations across the province.
The cyclone's shift represents a fortunate turn for a nation already reeling from what BBC News has described as the worst floods in decades. The weeks of severe flooding that preceded Gezani's approach have created a humanitarian emergency of staggering proportions, with nearly 700,000 people affected across multiple provinces. Survivors have described scenes of utter devastation, with one displaced resident telling BBC reporters: "The water took everything."
The flooding has destroyed homes, infrastructure, and agricultural land, compounding food security concerns in a country where subsistence farming remains the primary livelihood for millions. Emergency response teams have struggled to reach isolated communities cut off by floodwaters, while displacement camps have swelled beyond capacity in safer areas.
Regional Weather Patterns and Preparedness
The near-miss with Cyclone Gezani underscores the precarious position of southern African nations during the cyclone season, which typically runs from November through April. Mozambique's extensive coastline along the Indian Ocean places it directly in the path of tropical systems that form over warm ocean waters, while Zimbabwe's landlocked position offers geographical protection from direct strikes but not from associated rainfall and flooding.
Meteorological authorities in both countries have invested in improved early warning systems following devastating cyclones in recent years, including Cyclone Idai in 2019, which killed more than 1,000 people across Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. These systems proved their worth in the Gezani response, allowing authorities to issue timely warnings and coordinate evacuations where necessary.
The Meteorological Services Department of Zimbabwe has maintained continuous monitoring of the system, issuing regular updates to government agencies and the public. This proactive approach reflects lessons learned from past disasters when delayed warnings contributed to higher casualty figures and property losses.
Humanitarian Crisis Continues
While Cyclone Gezani's retreat into the Indian Ocean removes the immediate threat of additional storm damage, Mozambique faces a long recovery period from the existing flood disaster. International humanitarian organizations have mobilized emergency relief operations, but access challenges and funding gaps have hampered the response.
The flooding has also raised concerns about waterborne diseases, with stagnant floodwaters creating ideal conditions for cholera and malaria outbreaks. Health authorities have prioritized water purification and disease surveillance in affected areas, though the scale of displacement complicates these efforts.
For Zimbabwe, the cyclone's bypass offers an opportunity to support regional recovery efforts without managing its own disaster. The country's meteorological services continue monitoring weather conditions, aware that the cyclone season remains active and that climate change patterns are producing increasingly unpredictable storm behaviour.
As Cyclone Gezani dissipates over open waters, the immediate threat recedes, but the underlying vulnerability of southern African nations to extreme weather events remains. The 700,000 Mozambicans already affected by flooding face months of recovery, while regional governments must balance immediate humanitarian needs with long-term investments in climate resilience and disaster preparedness infrastructure.