FLOODS ALERT

ZAMBIANS must put in place measures to prevent ood that perenniall inundate human settlements and infrastructure, particularly in hi hl populated area . The Zambia Meteorological Department has already released a rain pattern forecast indicating that some parts of the country will receive above normal rainfall. Perhaps, the current heat is a prelude to the expected heavy rainfall particularly in the Northern half of the country, the east as well as the central regions. In Kabwe, the most affected areas in the rainy season are Makululu, Chimanimani, part of Bwacha, Ngungu, Katondo and New Luangwa. In the capital city, Misisi, Kuku, Garden House, Kanyama and Chibolya Townships are among the most ood hit areas. It is, therefore, prudent that the drainage system in the capital city is cleared to accommodate the high volumes of ood water that also affect the Central Business District (CBD), particularly Kulima Tower area and Lumumba Road. The Lusaka City Council, district as well as the provincial administrations, Zambia National Service and other arms of Government must plan now and start implementing contingency measures. Players in the private sector must be incorporated at all levels, from planning through to implementation stage. This matter should be treated with the urgency deserves! Early planning is important in all aspects of life. A proverb by a Chinese military strategist and author un T u puts it aptly, plan what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.” Yes, planning must be enhanced now to prevent damage to infrastructure not only in townships but also on highways and bridges as was the case in Muchinga Province when Chama was almost cut off from the rest of the country. Zambia witnessed damage to infrastructure when the Lundazi-Chipata road was swept away at a bridge, while in Mpika at Danger Hill on the Great North Road the bridge caved. The ow of traffic was disrupted. Since the weather patterns cannot be controlled in the short-term, Government and citizens must henceforth make some adjustments such as clearing and broadening the drainages and grading the gravel roads neatly with attendant drainage system. The change in weather patterns are caused by human activities, such as indiscriminate charcoal-burning that trigger pollutants. Charcoal burning must be checked! This is worsened by population boom which has also triggered haphazard construction of houses on drainage systems and on service lines, constricting water passage. Apart from damage to property, oods have evidently resulted in loss of human lives and livestock. Lately, there has been complaints about the rising temperatures, overshadowing the more devastating oods that are begging to pummel many parts of the country once the rains are at full throttle. Therefore, all stakeholders must not lose focus of solutions to the ash oods and only react when damage has already been made. Usually, there are some people that are careless, building houses on rivers banks. These are the same people who would shout the loudest for help, calling upon the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to provide shelter and relief food. Move out of such death traps for once! t is costly to deal with the effects of the oods; preventive measures should instead be employed to lessen the burden on the treasury.