Floods cut off Zambezi schools

Rising floodwaters in the Zambezi region have cut off road access to Muzii Combined School, forcing pupils to use canoes to reach the school.

Zambezi regional education director Alex Sikume yesterday said a stream en route to the school is filling up with flood- and rainwater, making the school inaccessible by road beyond a certain point.

“However, the pupils are accessing the school via canoe or banana boat just to cross the stream, and then walk to school.

The school is, however, not completely surrounded by water.

“Teaching and learning at Muzzi and other schools are not interrupted at all,” he said.

Sikume said it is too early to be concerned about floods affecting the schools.

“Nonetheless, we are prepared to take measures to ensure the safety of pupils and teachers if the need arises at a later stage,” he said.

The Zambezi region experiences annual floods, often cutting off access to villages, schools and other government institutions, especially in the Kabbe South and Kabbe North constituencies.

Last year, flooding led to the temporary closure of Muzii Combined School, as well as the Nankuntwe and Mpukano primary schools.

Kabbe North constituency councillor Bernard Sisamu says floods have not yet disrupted residents’ daily movements.

He says the heavy rains experienced since last November have displaced over 25 families.

“These families have since been provided with tents and temporary shelters and have since rebuilt their homes, which have been destroyed.

“We are yet to fully experience the annual floods, but we are prepared to assist affected communities,” Sisamu says.

The Namibia Meteorological Service (NMS) has released its outlook for the 2025/26 rainfall season, projecting above normal rains for most of the country between January and March.

The NMS says the coming season will demand early action and preparedness.

“Namibia must brace for both opportunities and risks: good rains to replenish grazing and crops, but also the threat of flooding and infrastructure damage,” the service says.

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