People in Traditional Authority M’bwana in Nkhata Bay District have teamed up to construct stone bunds along the slopes of Nthezulu Mountain to contain floods.
Speaking in an interview on Monday during a media tour, Ackim Wana, the programme’s participant from Sasasa Catchment Area, said they are implementing the activities under the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme.
He said every year the community experienced floods resulting from uncontrolled water run-off from the mountain.
down water run-off
Said Wana: “Last year, floods affected people at Usisya, leaving people homeless and without food.
“However, through the programme, we have constructed stone bunds along the mountain slopes to control water run-off, thereby protecting our crop fields and homes.”
Another participant Sophie Chidazi, 64, said the stone bunds will not only control floods but also help to reclaim the lost soil fertility.
“These stone bunds will help to reverse land degradation and conserve water,” she said.
Chidazi said they also do other activities to conserve the environment, including natural tree regeneration, gully reclamation and making swales.
In his remarks, Nkhata Bay District Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme facilitator Edward Ngwemba said the district’s 14 catchment areas were registering successes.
He said: “We have just finished the second phase of continuous implementation.
“I am optimistic that we will continue registering the strides in the subsequent phases.’
Ngwemba said government has increased the number of participants in Nkhata Bay from 11 233 to 15 418 and they are getting K48 000 after working for 30 days.
Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Project implemented with supported from the Multi-Donor Trust Fund and the World Bank.
