Thursday, March 28, 2024

Chambeshi river burst its banks, floods damage 212 houses in Shiwang’andu

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Chambeshi river has burst its banks thereby flooding the Samfwa road and submerging crop fields in the Northern part of Shiwang`andu district in Muchinga Province.

The overflow of Chambeshi river is due to the heavy rains the district has experienced this rain season.

This came to light when a District Disaster Management and Mitigation team visited Kabanda and other affected areas in various wards of Shiwang`andu.

Shiwang`andu District Council Chairperson Epilius Chisulo said about 1.5 kilometre of Safwa road and the pontoon are flooded, resulting in the closure of operations at Samfwa pontoon area.

Mr. Chisulo said travelers are using boats to cross Chambeshi river while motorists are completely unable to drive through the flooded road.

And speaking on behalf of other villagers, Steven Kangwa of Walima village said the floods recorded this year have greatly affected many households while many crop fields have been submerged and houses collapsing.

Mr. Kangwa has since appealed to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to help the affected people.

Meanwhile, Shiwang`andu District Administrative Officer Christopher Banda said about 86 families have been affected by floods in three wards of Shiwang`andu district.

Mr. Banda said 212 houses have also collapsed besides crop fields being submerged in water.

14 COMMENTS

  1. Why only this year? Has this happened in the recent past? Is it because previously unsettled areas near the river are now settled due to population increase? I’m at my wits end.

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    • Sad development indeed, this should be a year the country stock up on food for 2 to 3 season, do not dispair Hope and Help is on the way.

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  2. We asked DMU under VP office to immediately issue a report on this. We are not taking this lightly and already have people on the ground. Kz

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  3. we are getting more extreme dipoles and there’s also evidence to suggest that they are likely to increase in frequency,This weather phenomenon known as a positive Indian Ocean Dipole ( Indian Niño) is directly causing the flooding, Its high time we evacuated people in low areas and take kin interest in understanding the hydrology of our environment.Do some catchment studies take advantage of these floods by planning for storage reservoirs of such free water which you will later need.Now its like everybody is watching the floods like its noah’s era.

  4. Generally the entire stretch of the chambeshi-luapula watershed is a flood zone with lots of foot bridges and portions of roads either submerged or completely washed off. Most small farmers would need assistance in early harvesting and emergency storage facilities of the maize crop

  5. Mambepa: Hw can a watershed flood? Do u mean Chambeshi-Luapula river basin? A watershed is always a dividing ridge from where rain water flows in opposite directions. By definition, a watershed cannot flood because water is always flowing away from it. In Lusaka for example the area around St Ignatius Catholic church, Woodlands, Kabulonga, high court, etc cannot flood because it’s a watershed. Water flows in opposite directions, that is, north and south from this area to flood low lying areas.

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  6. Probably built on flood plains. Construction Planning Authorities, should have gauged this and not given permission to build dwellings in the area. Also, am I the only person who believes the spelling “Shiwag’andu” should be spelt Shibang’andu?

  7. Too much corruption, who gives planning permission in these Councils. People just built after talking to each other with council officers.

  8. Zedian really? You want disaster to happen around the Kariba Dam. That is not even logical. What is wrong with some Zambians? I am done.

  9. @ nemwine thanks for the correction. I guess I said generally coz in some areas feeder rills and tributaries have equally got bursted and flooded the divides. I’d like to believe it may also depend on water table depth and drainage.

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