By Simon Liseli
SOME water catchment areas in the North Eastern Angola, Southern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and North Western Zambia that flows water into the Zambezi River to cause flood in the Caprivi region once they are full, have little water due to less rainfall this year.
In an interview with the Caprivi Vision, Chairperson of the Caprivi Regional Management Committee and Councillor for Kabbe Constituency Hon. Raphael Mbala said the situation of flood this year is slightly better when compared to previous years.
According to Mr. Mbala, there is a small rising of water in the Zambezi River because of low flood that have been passing the Barotse flood plains in Western Zambia.
The water level at Chabuma between the boarder of Zambia and Angola started subsiding on March 30, 2012 and other readings at Lukulu started dropping down on the 6th and 7th of April 2012 and reports continue showing that in these two (2) check points water is dropping down and at Senanga, water is rising a bit and continue rising.
“In the Zambezi River water is rising but predictions are that in May water will start subsiding and if there will be no rain again no rising will be expected,” said Mr. Mbala.
The water level in the Zambezi River is currently above the normal maximum of 5.50 meters and it’s at 5.81 metres and the focus is that it may rise to 6 metres and above but it wont reach 7m. “If it will be like that, this will be the lowest maximum since 2006” he said.
The comparisons of water level in the Zambezi River for the previous years have been reported as follows, the present level is at 5.81m and the normal maximum of water in the Zambezi River should be at 5.50m.
In 2006 the maximum level of water was 5.37m and in 2007 it was at 7,26m while in 2008 it dropped to 6.11m, 2009 it increased to 7, 95 m, 2010 it slightly subsidised to 7.37m and last year 2011 it was at 6.91m.
“Here we always face flooding when these catchment areas are full to capacity and start flowing which always happen when there is enough rain, without heavy rain we cannot expect flood,” he lamented.
In 2008 people in the flooded areas were not relocated as there was no heavy rain and currently only few people have moved to school grounds in some areas and the only one school which is affected at the moment is Nankutwe Combined School but nothing has been done as schools are about to close for their first term holiday.
“I think when schools will re-open water will have already dropped dramatically so there is no need to relocate them, generally the three (3) floods we have records by 28 May in all these past years are below normal maximum 5.50 m, the high maximum is 7 m and the very high maximum is 7.5 m” explained the Caprivi Chairperson.
He added saying if water could have reached 5.50 m in the month of February each year people in the flooded areas should be relocated to higher grounds as by April each year the maximum can go up to 6.5m -7.5m which is not dual condition to people living in the flood plain areas.
Mr. Mbala mentioned that fields in areas such as Imukusi, Lisikili, Nsundwa, Ikaba, part of Impalila, Kabulabula, Mbalasinte, Kasika, Ibilibinzi, Old Lusese, Old Kabbe, Masikili, Nakabolelwa and Ngoma areas were flooded in February this year.
“Fields in those areas that I have just mentioned to you now were already flooded in February but nothing have been done so far” he furthered.
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