THE Katima Mulilo town council has started servicing the gravel roads in the informal settlements which were damaged by the recent heavy rainfall, to restore them to a usable condition and allow motorists back on the roads.
The roads in the informal settlements within the area, such as the Choto, Cowboy and Mahohoma informal settlements, have a track record of floods following heavy rains, making it difficult for traffic to move or residents to have access to their homes.
The chairperson of the Katima Mulilo town council, Lister Shamalaza, during a media briefing on Thursday, noted that they have heard the people’s concerns and, in response, have temporarily put measures in place to ensure that the roads are accessible even when it rains.
‘Today we will start by draining the water ponds which are all over the streets. Not only to make roads accessible but also to avoid mosquitoes breeding in these waters. After that, we will level the roads with gravel. In Choto, where we are standing now, we will be servicing the seven roads which we believe are the most affected. However, in the long run, we will look into more permanent solutions, such as creating a drainage system for the informal settlements whereby such rain waters flow into (sic). We really want to create better roads for our people, therefore, we will make it a habit to maintain them as funds allow,” he explained.
During the rainy season, the roads are not the only casualties of the flooding in the informal settlements — the homes of the local residents often bear the brunt of the damage. However, according to the spokesperson of the Katima Mulilo town council, Muyoba Muyoba, the council has arranged for a temporary relocation site where the affected families can stay until the rainy season is over.
“We are ready to assist those who might be left without a place to stay if their homes are flooded due to rain. However, currently we did not receive any reports of people who wants to be relocated temporarily (sic),” he said.
Chairperson of the Choto suburb development committee Jimmy Sikwela, who also spoke to the media, noted that the issue of the flooded roads and homes at Katima Mulilo was a thorn in the side of the local community every year, so to see that the council is doing its part to assist the residents is a great source of happiness.
“We have been crying for a long time, and they have finally responded, so we hope the solutions they are bringing will help improve our lives. As suburbs, we are all facing the same problems and we need a permanent solution so that the same thing does not happen like it’s being happening all these years. My suggestion is that they put in a drainage system to solve this annual problem,” he stressed.
