Floods loom in Caprivi

THE Caprivi Region once again faces the threat of floods, as the Zambezi River continues to rise rapidly.

Residents close to the region’s flood plains have already been warned to consider moving away and shifting their livestock to higher ground. By yesterday the river had risen to 0,97 metres, as measured at Katima Mulilo, after standing at 0,95 metres the day before.At the same time last year, the river rose to a metre deep, resulting in severe floods in the eastern parts of the region.Most of the Caprivi is reported to be receiving rain, but the Windhoek Meteorological Office said the rising level of the Zambezi followed heavy showers in the river’s catchment area across the northern border.After receiving less than two millimetres of rain a day over the past week, Katima Mulilo recorded 17,4 mm on Wednesday.Rainfall figures for outlying areas were not available yesterday.The Weather Bureau said it relied on farmers to feed such information to them.According to Vincent Simana, Senior Research Technician Officer for Water Involvement in the Agriculture and Water Ministry at Katima Mulilo, crops in the flood plains in the far east of the region had already flooded.He told The Namibian that travel was becoming very difficult in the area and that two warnings had already been issued to the communities of Bukalo, Ngoma, Sibbinda and Linyanti to move their livestock to higher ground and also to consider relocating themselves.”The floods will be more than last year.We are heading in the same direction.It can happen again,” said Simana.In the Kavango Region rain was also reported to be falling steadily, but as with the Zambezi, showers in Angola are causing the Kavango River to flow very strongly.About 20 mm of rain has been recorded at Rundu over the past week.Most low-lying areas in the region are said to be flooded.Control Rural Water Extension Officer Livingi Livingi said the river was flowing at a pace last seen five years ago, bringing with it many crocodiles.On the Angolan side of the border, mahangu crops on the banks of the river have been totally submerged.Vegetable plantations within a 20-kilometre radius of Rundu had been washed out, Livingi said.Finding suitable grazing for livestock is also proving more difficult as water levels rise.Livestock owners usually graze their animals along the banks of the Kavango.According to the weather office, there is a 40 per cent chance of showers in the Kavango today, tapering off over the weekend, to 20 per cent tomorrow and only partly cloudy on Sunday.In the Caprivi, there is a 15 to 20 per cent chance of rain today, but in the east of the region it is predicted to be at least 60 per cent certain that heavy rain will continue to fall into early next week.By yesterday the river had risen to 0,97 metres, as measured at Katima Mulilo, after standing at 0,95 metres the day before. At the same time last year, the river rose to a metre deep, resulting in severe floods in the eastern parts of the region. Most of the Caprivi is reported to be receiving rain, but the Windhoek Meteorological Office said the rising level of the Zambezi followed heavy showers in the river’s catchment area across the northern border. After receiving less than two millimetres of rain a day over the past week, Katima Mulilo recorded 17,4 mm on Wednesday. Rainfall figures for outlying areas were not available yesterday. The Weather Bureau said it relied on farmers to feed such information to them. According to Vincent Simana, Senior Research Technician Officer for Water Involvement in the Agriculture and Water Ministry at Katima Mulilo, crops in the flood plains in the far east of the region had already flooded. He told The Namibian that travel was becoming very difficult in the area and that two warnings had already been issued to the communities of Bukalo, Ngoma, Sibbinda and Linyanti to move their livestock to higher ground and also to consider relocating themselves. “The floods will be more than last year. We are heading in the same direction. It can happen again,” said Simana. In the Kavango Region rain was also reported to be falling steadily, but as with the Zambezi, showers in Angola are causing the Kavango River to flow very strongly. About 20 mm of rain has been recorded at Rundu over the past week. Most low-lying areas in the region are said to be flooded. Control Rural Water Extension Officer Livingi Livingi said the river was flowing at a pace last seen five years ago, bringing with it many crocodiles. On the Angolan side of the border, mahangu crops on the banks of the river have been totally submerged. Vegetable plantations within a 20-kilometre radius of Rundu had been washed out, Livingi said. Finding suitable grazing for livestock is also proving more difficult as water levels rise. Livestock owners usually graze their animals along the banks of the Kavango. According to the weather office, there is a 40 per cent chance of showers in the Kavango today, tapering off over the weekend, to 20 per cent tomorrow and only partly cloudy on Sunday. In the Caprivi, there is a 15 to 20 per cent chance of rain today, but in the east of the region it is predicted to be at least 60 per cent certain that heavy rain will continue to fall into early next week.