By Virginia Njovo
An earth tremor jolted parts of Bikita South early Sunday morning, sending waves of fear among residents in wards 1, 2, 3, 23, and parts of 27, raising fresh concerns over the district’s seismic vulnerability.
Ward 2 councilor Attwell Ndonde told TellZim News that the sudden vibrations struck on June 29, at around 0600 hours, startling villagers and prompting fears of a more destructive quake.
“It was terrifying. I felt the trembling while I was still indoors, and many villagers did too. Thankfully, there were no injuries or damage, but the uncertainty is unsettling, we don’t know if a stronger one might follow,” said Ndonde.
Ward 3 councilor Mary Beancer Mukwenya confirmed the tremor was also felt in her area, although with less intensity.
“We experienced the shaking as well, and while there was no visible damage, it’s the fear of what could happen next that worries us. If this continues, it could affect both the social and economic well-being of villagers,” said Mukwenya.
Bikita District lies in a zone that has recorded recurring seismic activity over the years. According to geological data, the area has experienced at least 35 recorded earthquakes since the 1950s.
The latest incident comes months after a 4.9 magnitude earthquake struck near Kariba in December 2024, highlighting the broader vulnerability of parts of Zimbabwe to seismic events. The quake, confirmed by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km and caused moderate shaking.
While Sunday’s tremor caused no damage, villagers called for government and disaster management agencies to assess the situation and raise awareness in at-risk communities.
