Malawi Freedom Network 
By Lovemore Lubinda
HARARE – The Government of Zimbabwe has launched a nationwide cloud-seeding programme to mitigate the effects of climate change as the region faces a forecast of below-normal rainfall.
This saw at least three aircraft and drones being deployed to support operations in Harare, Masvingo, Bulawayo and other adjacent areas.
Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, said the move follows the release of the seasonal weather forecast showing low to normal rainfall coupled with elevated temperatures.
Speaking during a post-Cabinet briefing this afternoon, Dr Masuka said government has activated a six-pillar response plan focusing on enhanced strategic grain reserves, climate-smart agriculture, new financing architecture, a livestock response, enhanced imports, coordination, capacity building and early warning systems.
“It is in this context that under pillar two, which looks at climate-smart production, the government is looking at enhancement and augmentation of rainfall,” he said.
The announcement comes after the Southern African Development Community (SADC), through its Climate Services Centre and National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, released the regional climate outlook for the 2026/27 rainy season.
The outlook released recently indicates an increased likelihood of below-normal rainfall across much of central and southern SADC, while wetter conditions are favoured in parts of the north and northeast.
For October-November-December (OND) 2026, below-normal rainfall is favoured over much of Angola, southern Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Botswana, most of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. Normal to above-normal rainfall is expected over parts of the northern region, while above-normal rainfall is forecast for eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, most of Tanzania, the extreme northern parts of Malawi and Zambia, and Seychelles.
The dry signal is expected to persist as the season progresses. During January-February-March (JFM) 2027, below-normal rainfall remains favoured across Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and parts of South Africa. Normal to above-normal rainfall is favoured across much of the northern region, with above-normal rainfall particularly likely over eastern Tanzania and Comoros.
Temperatures are also expected to be above average across most of the SADC region, except for some central areas where cooler-than-usual conditions are forecast.
A key driver for the season is a developing El Niño in the tropical Pacific. El Niño conditions are already established and are expected to strengthen further in late 2026, reaching strong to very strong intensity, with peak intensity around the OND 2026 period.
Strong El Niño events are generally associated with below-normal rainfall over large parts of central and southern SADC, although other climate drivers also influence rainfall patterns.
The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is currently neutral, but latest guidance indicates a high likelihood of a positive IOD developing and persisting through OND before weakening to neutral in early 2027.
The outlook was released following the 33rd Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-33), held in Swakopmund, Namibia, from 25 to 28 August 2026, which brought together climate experts from SADC Member States, the SADC Climate Services Centre and international partners.
The SADC Climate Services Centre said it will continue to provide regional updates, while national meteorological services will issue detailed country-specific forecasts.
Stakeholders have been urged to follow sub-seasonal, monthly and short-range forecasts throughout the 2026/27 season.
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