Heavy rains cut off communication in Rimbi

By Artwell Chingwara Sithole

This morning, on the 19th of January 2026, Rimbi Village and surrounding areas were engulfed in a torrent of rain that turned gullies into raging rivers, leaving communities knee-deep in water. The heavy rainfall has not only disrupted daily life but has also posed a grave threat to safety. Tragically, lives have already been lost as some residents attempted to cross flooded rivers and streams, illustrating the dire consequences of the current weather patterns.

Parents now face the agonizing decision of prioritizing their children’s safety or abandoning the attempt to get them to school altogether. Yet, this situation is compounded by a severe network outage that has left us without communication for over a week. How can one ensure the safety of loved ones? How can anyone call for help when disaster strikes?

These recent events evoke painful memories of Cyclone Idai, which devastated Chimanimani and parts of Chipinge. Would timely communication have made a difference in mitigating damage back then? We may never know, but it is increasingly clear that reliable communication networks are essential during emergencies.

As I trudged through the relentless rain, grappling with the reality of our disconnection, I couldn’t help but wonder if we are regressing to outdated methods of communication—ham radios, messengers, or even smoke signals. This precarious situation raises urgent concerns regarding the reliability of services like Econet Zimbabwe, which have failed to provide stable coverage in Rimbi and its surrounding areas.

As heavy rains continue to threaten our lives, I urge all residents to remain vigilant and exercise extreme caution. Avoid any unnecessary adventures that may put you at risk. Stay safe, stay alert, and look after one another during these tumultuous times.