THE level of the Zambezi River continues to rise significantly following heavy rainfall over the past few days.
Data released by the Namibia Water Corporation (NamWater) on Monday indicated that the river’s water level stood at 1.67 metres, a substantial increase compared to the 0.82 metres recorded on the same date last month.
Earlier this year, on 6 January, NamWater waterworks assistant Nalisa Mapenzi reported that the river had dropped to its lowest level in five years, measuring just 0.3 metres. This drastic decline had severe infrastructural impacts.
In 2024 on the same date, the river’s water level stood at 0.9 metres.
During a normal peak season, the Zambezi River typically rises to above five metres, a level Mapenzi described as crucial for the efficient operation of NamWater’s pump stations. The last time the river exceeded this threshold was in 2021, when by 3 March it had reached 6.29 metres, causing flash floods and overflowing riverbanks.
“I just hope that it continues to rain so that we see a surge in the rise of the water level of the Zambezi River from the Namibian side. Water infrastructure is an essential framework that ensures and enables the continuous flow of clean potable water to our homes, businesses and industries,” Mapenzi said.
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