Demolish structures contributing to floods - Lusambo
LUSAKA Province Minister Bowman Lusambo has ordered Lusaka City Council to demolish structures built on drainages blocking the flow of water and causing flooding.
The directive followed a tour of the city’s high density areas of Misisi and Chawama where close to 100 houses and pit latrines are submerged following continuous rainfall.
The minister was shocked to find faecal matter flowing in between houses because the main drainage has been blocked by a wall fence recently put up at the Mosque near the Blue Water dam.
A resident, Mr Cephas Siwale called on the government to come to their aid as their houses have become inhabitable because of floods.
Household goods such as beds and chairs were submerged and abandoned as families have moved to drier areas.
Mr Lusambo said it was not normal for a capital city such as Lusaka to have 15 unplanned settlements and that the government would use the law to relocate residents in shanty compounds elsewhere especially those adversely affected by floods for their own safety.
The minister said this yesterday in Lusaka after touring Msisi and Chawama Townships He said part of the Mosque’s wallfence near the Ngwenya Dam would have to be demolished to allow the free passage of water into the Makeni main drainage.
“I am directing you the council to demolish illegal structures even those which are legal but hampering the free flow of water, consequently hampering the delivery of services to our citizens,’’ he said.
Lusaka Deputy Mayor Chilando Chitangala expressed happiness that stakeholders such as the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit, the Road Development Agency and Council engineers were on the ground to assess the situation.
And Nkoloma Ward Councillor who is President Edgar Lungu’s daughter, Tasila said she has been having sleepless nights following the floods in Chawama.