Floods have devastated Katonga and surrounding areas in Chief Chitambo in Serenje where hosues have collapsed and crops submerged.
The affected areas include Nawaya, Inkunko, Spaita, Katonga, Chilambe, Gibson and Luombwa where people have vacated the areas to higher land where they have pitched temporal shelters.
Some people from Katonga, Nawaya have relocated to Mangala, a higher area leaving their houses, some standing in water while others have collapsed
Chief Chitambo appealed to the Disaster Management and Mitigation (DMMU) to prepare tents, blankets and chlorine including drugs and food to be supplied to his affected subjects in the area.
He told Chitambo Member of Parliament, Nasim Hamir, who was in the area to assess the floods that cassava fields were once against submerged and the tubers were rotting.
MMD constituency treasurer Fumpa Chiwila of Ikunko area said many people were drinking contaminated water because they have either relocated leaving boreholes or their wells have collapsed.
He explained that Mukuku community school had closed because buildings are standing in water while pupils from the surrounding areas who go to Katonga school, wad through water to and from school.
‘’Four shops and close to 30 houses have collapsed in Katonga area alone and I believe many more have collapsed elsewhere because there is too much water compared to the previous years. We are looking forward for assistance from government,’’ he said.
And Luombwa MMD councilor Jonathan Mwewa told Mr. Nasim that Luombwa River banks burst, causing terrible floods that have submerged sorghum, maize and cassava fields at Reuben and Kamaka.
Meanwhile, Chitambo Member of Parliament, Nasim Hamir, who is also Lands Deputy Minister, has also appealed to the DMMU for relief food supplies to the affected people.
Okay the MP has been to assess the damage. What next and what is the time frame for action?
I am sorry to hear about further suffering of our people.
I am also sad to hear of the suffering of people.
One thing i have noticed with the various reports over the past week is that they do not describe very well the extent of flooding, the size of area and the amount of people affected. Serious as it is, it is difficult for one to access the severity of the news.
sorry for the sufferingof people. But though hard for them, they are doing something, moving to higher lands which is wise. why do you just sit on the problem? very soon government will come to you people.
This is serious for Zambia, even such places like Serenje can be flooded, with the hill terrain, this is a national study.
Zambia needs to prepare for effects of Climate Change!