Zimbabwe’s Lightning Crisis: Tradition, Science, and Safety

Zimbabwe records one of the world’s highest lightning fatality rates, driven by climate risks and traditional beliefs (image source)

EASTERN ZIMBABWE — The tragic death of a 103-year-old grandmother struck by lightning in January while handling utensils inside her kitchen hut has once again cast a spotlight on Zimbabwe’s alarmingly high lightning fatality rate. Her death forms part of a broader national crisis that claims dozens of lives each rainy season, which typically runs from October to March.

Experts estimate that lightning kills an average of 120 people annually in Zimbabwe, though the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) believes the figure may be underreported by as much as 20 to 30 percent. With a population of about 16 million, this translates to roughly 10 deaths per million people each year, with some studies placing the figure as high as 21 per million. By contrast, the United States records fewer than one lightning death per 10 million people annually, while South Africa reports about two to three per million. Zimbabwe’s rate is therefore among the highest globally.

The country also holds one of the world’s darkest lightning records. On December 23, 1975, a single lightning strike killed 21 people in Chinamasa village, the deadliest lightning incident ever recorded worldwide. Nearly five decades later, lightning remains a persistent and deadly threat.

Despite the risks, precautionary behaviour remains limited, particularly in rural communities. Traditional beliefs strongly influence how lightning is understood and responded to. In some communities, lightning is viewed not as a natural phenomenon but as a supernatural force deployed by malicious individuals. Traditional healer Tichakunda Bote, who is also the legal affairs secretary of the Zimbabwe National Traditional Healers Association, explained that lightning is often perceived as a weapon used to settle disputes. “Lightning can be used by evil people to harm others when there is a problem between people. It can be used only when there is a problem,” he said.

Such beliefs can have fatal consequences. Many people remain outdoors during storms, continue working in fields, or fail to seek safe shelter, convinced they are not at risk unless targeted by human malice. Meteorologists and public health experts warn that this mindset leaves communities dangerously exposed.

Scientific evidence is unequivocal: lightning is a natural electrical discharge associated with thunderstorms and poses serious risks to human life. Safety experts urge the public to observe basic precautions, including seeking shelter indoors during storms, avoiding open fields, rivers and tall trees, and refraining from using taps, showers or plumbing while lightning activity is ongoing. Electrical appliances should be unplugged to prevent power surges, and children should be educated on the dangers of working or playing outside during thunderstorms.

Analysts say Zimbabwe’s lightning crisis is as much cultural as it is environmental. Reducing fatalities will require bridging traditional worldviews with scientific understanding through sustained public education campaigns that respect cultural contexts while promoting life-saving knowledge.

With climate variability increasing the frequency and intensity of severe weather events, experts warn that lightning-related deaths could rise unless decisive action is taken. For Zimbabwe, confronting the lightning crisis means addressing both the physical dangers from the skies above and the deeply rooted beliefs that shape responses on the ground.