Downpour ravages two Lusaka townships

Wed, 23 Nov 2016 12:12:34 +0000

SOME houses in Kalikiliki and Kuku settlement areas were on Monday afternoon submerged following heavy rains that hit Lusaka Province.

Ms Musosha Kabungo from Kalikiliki, one of the people whose family was affected by the flooding, expressed worry over the situation and appealed to Government through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) for aid such as food, shelter and other resources to prevent them from contracting diseases.

“It is too early for our houses to be submerged by rains. This is November and we have not even reached January. I am appealing to Government to look into the matter; my family is homeless now,’’ said Ms Kabungo.

She said the area was prone to flooding, hence it was easy for the houses to be submerged and now that the water levels were high Governmnet should do something to lessen the suffering of the people.

Joseph Kaisala of the same area also said the compound was always flooding due to lack of a drainage system and poor road network.

He said this situation would now force residents and especially children to wade in filthy stagnant water when leaving their homes.

Mr Kaisala urged Government to support the affected families and secure a land for the victims where they would be safe.

“At the moment, pumping out water in case of the continuing downpours would not be a sustainable method. Because leaving like this we are in problems, as you can see all the food has been washed away including mealie meal; clothes are all socked in water,’’ he said, while shedding tears.

And Anna Ngulube from Kuku compound complained that the flood situation in the area was worsened by the under-developed drainage system.

She said it was sad that the drainage system had remained unattended to for a long time and now the residents lived in fear of an outbreak of waterborne diseases like cholera because of the contaminated water.

Charles Mulenga, a Chawama resident, wondered why the local authority failed to rehabilitate drainages during the dry season and only did so when floods ravaged the area.