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Authority issues lower Zambezi flood warning

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THE Zambezi River Authority has warned people living along the Zambezi River to keep away from the river banks following the opening of two spillway gates at Kariba Dam.

THE Zambezi River Authority has warned people living along the Zambezi River to keep away from the river banks following the opening of two spillway gates at Kariba Dam.

REPORT BY SILAS NKALA

The authority said unexpected floods could endanger people’s lives as the water currents would be heavy.

Zambia’s Daily Mail newspaper reported on Monday that Zambezi authority hydrologist Pherry Mwiinga gave the warning shortly after the opening of the spillway gates at Kariba Dam in Siavonga.

“People living downstream should take this notice very seriously because water appears calm and friendly, but when it is flowing on a steep slope, it is no longer friendly,” he is quoted as having said.

“So we advise people living along the river, such as fishermen, farmers and lodge owners, to take note that the Zambezi River has got a peak flood of about 9 000 cubic metres per second.”

The official said the river authority controls the flow and level of water downstream because of the Kariba Power Station.

He said the two spillway gates had been opened to control the level of water in the reservoir and would remain open until towards the end of this month.

Scores of people from both Zambia and Zimbabwe reportedly thronged the Kariba Dam on Sunday to witness the initial spectacular opening of the spillway gates.

Mwiinga said the opening of the spillway gates was meant to safeguard the lifespan of the dam because of its economic significance to Zambia and Zimbabwe.

He said Kariba Power Station was an installation designed primarily for generation of electricity to support economies of the two countries.

Zambezi River Authority public relations and communications manager, Elizabeth Karonga from Zimbabwe, was also quoted as saying the authority decided to open only two spillway gates against the proposed three out of fear of causing damage to infrastructure and human lives downstream.