Tropical Cyclone Dudzai Will Not Affect Zimbabwe – MSD

The Meteorological Services Department (MSD) has reassured Zimbabweans that Cyclone Dudzai will not affect the country.

MSD’s head of forecasting, James Ngoma, said the department is monitoring the weather system and will keep the public updated.

Cyclone Dudzai is the fifth cyclone of the 2025/26 rainfall season. According to MSD, the tropical cyclone season is expected to produce more than nine cyclones, four of which have already occurred. Said Ngoma:

“In terms of the 2025/26 tropical cyclone season, we have experienced four cyclones in the South West Indian Ocean.

“The first was Cyclone Awol, named by Malawi, which dissipated in the Indian Ocean. The second, named Blossom by Seychelles, also ended in the Indian Ocean. The third cyclone was Chenge, named by Tanzania.”

Ngoma said Cyclone Chenge was headed towards Tanzania, but never made landfall on the African mainland.

The fourth cyclone of the season, Tropical Cyclone Grant, originated in Australia. Although it was not classified as a South West Indian Ocean cyclone, it moved towards Madagascar but eventually faded and did not reach Zimbabwe.

The MSD is currently monitoring Cyclone Dudzai, which has been named by Zimbabwe.

According to the latest projections, Dudzai is also expected to dissipate before reaching Madagascar or any other part of mainland Africa.

Ngoma said current indications suggest the cyclone will fade away within the Indian Ocean and will not affect any major landmass.

Arguably, the tropical cyclone that impacted Zimbabwe the most was Cyclone Idai, which hit the country in March 2019.

Ironically named by Zimbabwe, the cyclone left more than 340 people dead, with hundreds more reported missing and presumed dead.

Meanwhile, for the 2025/2026 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season, the names used include Awo, Blossom, Chenge, Dudzai, Ewetse, Fytia, Gezani, Horacio, Indusa, Juluka, Kundai, Lisebo, Michel, Nousra, Olivier, Pokera, Quincy, Rebaone, Salama, Tristan, Ursula, Violet, Wilson, Xila, and Yekela.

Zimbabwe contributed two names to the list: Dudzai and Kundai.

More: The Herald