Rains Hit Bulawayo Street Traders Hard

20 January 2026

By Monalisa Ntibane

Vendors in Bulawayo say heavy rains over the weekend have severely disrupted their businesses, with flooded streets driving customers away and damaging goods.

Several parts of the city were left waterlogged after blocked drainage systems overflowed, spreading dirty water and debris across major trading areas.

One vendor told Skyz Metro FM she lost many customers because people could not access her stall, adding that stagnant water made it impossible to trade safely.

“I have lost a lot of customers because of the heavy rains because they are unable to access my stall,”she said.

Another trader said his merchandise was damaged by rain, explaining that many vendors lack proper shelters and were forced to close early to protect their goods.

“My merchandise has been severely damaged by rain, which has forced me to close early in order to protect my goods,”he said.

Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department has issued a weather warning for heavy rains, lightning and strong winds from Tuesday to Saturday.

The department says some areas may receive over 50 millimetres of rain and has urged the public to avoid crossing flooded rivers to prevent loss of life.