Harare mayor proposes mandatory disaster cover for homeowners

Mafume reportedly raised the proposal at a full council meeting on 5 November. The scheme would provide basic cover up to a set limit. The amount of that limit, the premium homeowners would pay and whether the scheme would apply outside Harare remain unconfirmed. A formal council decision could not be verified.

The proposal also leaves open how homeowners would pay for cover, which disasters it would include and whether households with existing insurance would have to buy another policy.

Masvingo residents wait for repair assistance

The 5 October hailstorm damaged homes, vehicles and public infrastructure across Masvingo. The city opened Mucheke and Rujeko halls as temporary shelters and offered space for residents to store belongings.

An 11 October Department of Civil Protection assessment estimated that about 8,500 houses had lost their roofs or suffered severe roof damage. The assessment also recorded damage to 29 schools, five health facilities and more than 2,000 market stalls.

Authorities organised damage assessments across 11 affected wards and asked homeowners to submit estimates of what repairs would cost. Weeks later, some residents who had submitted quotations were still seeking a timetable for government help, Ward 7 councillor Rivhard Musekiwa told a council meeting in remarks reported on 3 November.

Masvingo Mayor Aleck Tabe said businesses had donated building materials and helped build cottages for some families. Some vulnerable households had also received food assistance, he said, but more resources were needed.

What compulsory cover could pay for

Homeowners can already buy property insurance in Zimbabwe. Some policies cover risks such as fire, lightning and flooding, with premiums based on factors including the property’s use and insured value. Mafume’s proposal would make basic disaster cover compulsory for the homeowners it applies to. The available details leave open whether hail damage would be covered and who would handle claims.

For a family whose roof has been torn off, the payout cap would help determine whether insurance could pay for a replacement or cover only part of the bill. The premium would determine what households pay to keep that protection in place. Both figures remain unconfirmed.