Zimbabwe gov't allays fears of another cyclone

HARARE, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwean government has allayed fears of another tropical cyclone hitting the country in a few days, saying that cyclone Joanina which is brewing in the Indian Ocean was far away from the mainland and would not even affect Madagascar.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in a statement issued on Monday that social media reports that the cyclone was gathering momentum and would affect Zimbabwe were incorrect.

"So far expert evidence suggests that cyclone Joanina will start and end in the Indian Ocean, not even affecting Madagascar, which shields the sub-continent from the high seas," she said.

She said, however, that Zimbabwe's Meteorological Services Department would continue to monitor the situation in the Indian Ocean, including cyclone Joanina.

Zimbabwe is still smarting from the effects of cyclone Idai which left a trail of disaster in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi mid-March.

In Zimbabwe, the government on Monday said the death tol from Idai stood at 179 in the country.