Harare — THE current winter rains falling across the country do not signify a drought next season, but evidence of climate change, the Meteorological Service Department has said.

In an interview on Tuesday, head of the forecasting office at the Met Department Mr Tichaona Zinyemba said it was not automatic that a wet winter preceded a dry summer.

Mr Zinyemba said moisture from the interior of the sub region was moving into the eastern parts of the country because of sustained pressure fall in the oceanic areas resulting in the rains.

"We call this "bands of disturbed weather'. They have been travelling eastwards and have resulted in the eastern parts of the country receiving rainfall.

"We would not expect such amounts of rainfall that are being recorded countrywide in winter. We have had thunderstorms in Harare and Nyanga and it is unusual," he said. Mr Zinyemba said currently there was a cloud band forming in the central parts of the country but it was premature to predict what would happen next.

He said two scenarios were bound to happen: either the clouds would dissipate or intensify as they move into the country and might result in rains. He said light showers were forecast in Mashonaland provinces until Sunday.

On Saturday Gweru received the highest amount of rainfall, recording 30mm, Bulawayo 20mm, Tsholotsho 15 mm and Kwekwe 8mm.

On Sunday Rusape recorded the highest rainfall of 30mm followed by Kwekwe 24 mm, Gokwe and Mazowe 17 mm and Harare 13mm.