Cyclone Kenneth could hit Zimbabwe today: Govt

The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has issued a warning of a tropical storm that is developing into a cyclone named Cyclone Kenneth, which is projected to make a landfall in Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi and parts of Zimbabwe today.

In a statement last night, director in the Department of Civil Protection Mr Nathan Nkomo said the cyclone had been sighted in the Comoros Island facing Zimbabwe’s direction.

“Another Cyclone Kenneth, is projected to hit Mozambique, Malawi and some parts of Zimbabwe has been sighted in the Comoros Island facing this direction.”

“It is projected that the cyclone will be in the region around 6pm on April 25. The trajectory of this impending catastrophe has been given by our early warning units, the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) whose model projections are also supported by those given SADC,” he said.

Earlier on, the MSD had issued a statement, saying:

“Tropical Storm Kenneth, off the north coast of Madagascar, is projected to strengthen into a Tropical Cyclone and if it maintains its westerly trajectory, it is set to make landfall near the Tanzanian border with Mozambique on Thursday evening after 6pm with a circulatory speed of approximately 200km/h.

“Areas that might be affected by heavy rains till April 27 are the southern parts of Tanzanian, northern provinces of Mozambique and Malawi,” read the statement. MSD had forecast that no rain was projected for Zimbabwe during this period till Saturday and that mostly sunny and warm conditions were anticipated.

Mr Nkomo said drawing huge lessons and experiences from the unprecedented destructive behaviour of the recent Cyclone Idai, people mostly those living in the flood prone areas of Mbire, Muzarabani, Mt Darwin, Nyanga, low lying areas of Masvingo Province, Chimanimani, Chipinge, Mutoko, Mudzi, Gokwe North are advised to be on high alert.

herald