Masvingo Runs Out of Glass, Roofing After Hailstorm

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Masvingo

Masvingo residents are spending hours in queues for window panes and roofing materials after a devastating hailstorm damaged thousands of homes across the city.

More than 13,500 households have been affected by the storm, according to officials, with broken windows and damaged or destroyed roofs leaving families scrambling to secure materials before more rain hits. The storm struck on Monday evening, October 5, with strong winds and hailstones damaging homes, schools, businesses, vehicles and public infrastructure. In some suburbs, residents were left with rainwater-soaked furniture, clothing and bedding after roofs were blown off and windows shattered.

The scale of the damage has triggered a sudden demand for glass, roofing sheets and other building materials, overwhelming local suppliers. Long queues have been reported at outlets including WEB Glass and hardware stores, with some residents moving between shops in search of supplies. Matilda Chikava of Hillside said she joined the queue at WEB Glass at about 11 am on Tuesday and was still waiting at 5 pm. “We have finally been told to come back and collect the window panes tomorrow. We will sleep in the open again tonight because our window panes were broken and roofing sheets blown away,” she said.

“My property is soaked in water. We went to other hardware shops, but we could not get anything because they were already sold out.” Another resident, Raviro Mutazu, said her roof and windows were damaged in the storm. “We have been in queues since morning, and it is now 3.30 pm. We are not sure whether we will all be assisted. We have been moving from one hardware shop to another, and all of them have long queues,” she said. The pressure on suppliers has been particularly acute because thousands of households are attempting repairs at the same time.

WEB Glass director Webster Chiseya said the surge in demand had caught the business off guard. “Business is brisk after this hailstorm. Sadly, we are making money out of a human tragedy. Since morning, clients have been waiting for their orders while they are being prepared,” he said. The shortage comes as authorities begin a wider emergency response. Masvingo City Mayor Aleck Tabe said the storm caused extensive damage to homes, private property and critical infrastructure, with several families left exposed to the elements.

The city has opened Mucheke Hall and Rujeko Hall to provide temporary accommodation for affected families and safe storage for household belongings. The government has also begun mobilising building materials, food and medicines for affected communities. Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira said assistance was being mobilised as damage assessments continued. The hailstorm has also affected schools and tertiary institutions. Great Zimbabwe University reported damage to facilities, while its graduation arrangements were disrupted by the storm.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since authorised a State of Disaster for affected areas, with Government appealing to the private sector and other partners to assist with the relief effort. For residents whose homes remain exposed, however, the immediate challenge is more basic: finding enough glass, roofing sheets and other materials to make their houses safe before the next downpour.

Masvingo hailstorm