Flash floods worry Mangochi legislator

Mangochi Central legislator Victoria Kingstone (Democratic Progressive Party) has expressed concern over flash floods in her area caused by rising water levels from Lake Malawi and Shire River.

She raised the concern on Wednesday in Parliament after receiving complaints from her constituents, especially those living along the lake and the river, including lodge owners, whose structures have been submerged in water.

Speaking on Attainment Motion and Standing Order 13, Kingstone described the situation as serious.

She said: “Water levels in Lake Malawi and Shire River have risen very high to the extent of causing floods that have affected resorts, lodges, cottages and other tourism facilities.”

Kingstone further said the situation has led to crocodiles crawling to residential areas and people’s fields, injuring two people in the process.

“This is a sad situation because these people lost their crops to floods caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy and now water from the lake and the river is posing a new threat,” she said.

Boniface Kubwalo, proprietor of G and J Cottage around Namiasi area, whose facility is among those affected, asked government to open Kamuzu Barrage at Liwonde in Machinga District to lower water levels in the lake.

“At the moment, we cannot make business and we ask for government’s intervention,” he said.

But in her response, Minister of Water and Sanitation Abida Mia, while sympathising with Kingstone and her constituents, dismissed claims that Kamuzu Barrage was closed; hence, causing the rise of water in the lake.

She said: “The barrage is not closed because Electricity Generation Company relies on water from the lake and the river for electricity generation.

“I blame people’s behaviour of constructing buildings or cultivating near the lake and rivers.”

The barrage is designed to control water levels downstream Shire River mostly for electricity generation.