Caprivi flooding starts early

THE water level of the Zambezi River has risen by two metres over the past week to 4,8 m on Saturday, up from 3,90 on Friday.

According to hydrologist Dr Guido van Langenhove, the annual inundation of the floodplains in the eastern part of the Caprivi Region was starting early this year, since the Zambezi level one year ago stood at only 1,62 m. “If the good rains higher up in the catchment areas of the Zambezi carry on like they are doing now, then very high levels may be attained that will also last for an unusually long period,” said Van Langenhove, who holds a director’s post in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.According to radio reports, some crop fields in the Linyanti area have been flooded.Seasonal flooding of the Zambezi River is a regular occurrence during good rainy seasons.”If the good rains higher up in the catchment areas of the Zambezi carry on like they are doing now, then very high levels may be attained that will also last for an unusually long period,” said Van Langenhove, who holds a director’s post in the Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Forestry.According to radio reports, some crop fields in the Linyanti area have been flooded.Seasonal flooding of the Zambezi River is a regular occurrence during good rainy seasons.