Mbeya floods leave more than 80 households homeless in Nzovwe
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A downpour lasting about ten minutes destroyed homes, businesses and livestock in Nzovwe Ward, Mbeya City, with the ward councillor blaming drainage that cannot cope with water from higher ground.
More than 80 households in Nzovwe Ward, Mbeya City, have been left homeless after heavy rain destroyed houses, businesses and livestock on Tuesday, 3 November 2026.
The downpour lasted about ten minutes and was accompanied by hailstones. The Citizen reported that 125 houses were swept away. Residents told the paper's sister publication Mwananchi that they had lost nearly all their belongings and did not know where they would sleep.
Ms Halima Chang'a said she had rescued her children but everything inside her house was swept away. Ms Emmy Kyando said she lost her household goods and chickens, while Mr Yohana Mwakaju said his chicken sheds and other businesses were destroyed.
Nzovwe Ward councillor Leo Mwakapila said flooding in the area is not new and that residents have suffered similar incidents since 2018. He said more than 80 households were severely affected and that no deaths had been reported.
Mwakapila attributed the flooding mainly to inadequate road infrastructure, particularly drainage that cannot accommodate water flowing from higher ground as a four-lane road is built through the area. Residents asked the government to fix the drainage as the road works continue.
The councillor urged residents to take precautions after warnings from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority about above-average rainfall linked to El Niño conditions.