Posted Jan 22, 2008
There has been extremely heavy rain this season. In Naminwe (the area with five bridges 40 km from Namwala on Choma Road and which forms the main way into Namwala itself) is very flooded. The first bridge among the five is opening bad cracks and is threatening to give way to strong current of water floods.
Kabulamwanda dam is already overflowing and water is running on top of the tarmac on the bridge.
Sianabwato stream, which forms the boundary between Namwala and Choma districts has overflowed. The surrounding areas are waterlogged, slippery and muddy, making it very difficult for trucks and buses to pass through.
Most of the maize fields are submerged in water and over 50 houses have collapsed at Namwala central.
Thankfully no lives have yet been lost.
The worst is yet to come. This is January, and the rains will continue through February and March. And this is only direct rain water: the Itezhi-tezhi dam spillway has just opened and water is coming in much quantity.
The future is one of great concern.
