IN recent days parts of the cuntry have experienced rainfall that has already caused damage to households and crops.
It is quite worrisome that every year, various communities are hit by natural disasters come rainy season.
Unfortunately, the country is still to see more rain and inevitably more disasters.
The Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) has disclosed that some parts of the country are likely to be hit by flash floods.
According to a brief advisory issued on its official media platform, areas cited for possible flash floods include Kasempa, Kazungula, Katima Mulilo, Mumbwa, and Choma.
Other areas expected to experience flash floods are Livingstone, Shang’ombo, Mulobezi, and Namwala.
The department has since urged members of the public to take precautions.
The weather advisory was issued with the approval of the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment.
The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Coordinator Dr Gabriel Pollen at his appointment last December said he will execute the mandate of the institution in accordance with the constitution to ensure that resources get to the intended beneficiaries.
Dr Pollen said he would ensure that President Hakainde Hichilema’s pronouncements on zero tolerance for corruption were actualised.
According to some reports coming out of Choma, residents feel that the local authority and ward development committee have not done enough to ensure that the disasters are mitigated.
They have said there is need to work on proper drainage system and ensuring that bridges in Mubula and Kulundana ward of Choma district are worked on.
In one of the dialogue meetings held in 2020 with residents of Mubula ward, one of the key recommendation that they gave and that was submitted to Choma municipal council was to work on the drainage system in overspill and Zambia compound.
But residents year in and out are subjected to such floods which damage their households furniture and makes it uncomfortable to sleep as the water finds itself in all the rooms in the house.
This poses a danger to them in terms of water borne disease outbreaks ,its also worth noting that there are still some residents that still use pit latrines and with such floods the risks are many.
With the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) increase of K25.7 million in the 2022 National Budget we hope to see some of these funds used in addressing some of these challenges that residents in these wards face.
We are hopeful that in future, communities will be able to implement plans that will prevent flood damage.
