Collapse of built environment

The Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) says seven houses collapsed in Mondengwa ward due to floods that were experienced in the area.
Chilanga District DMMU Officer Hakham Himaanga says 25 fields were also affected leaving crops vulnerable and prone to armyworm attack.
Mr Himaanga has explained that an assessment of Mondengwa and Mwembeshi wards of Chilanga District was conducted last month by a technical team due to flood incidents reports that were received.
Speaking in an interview with the media, Mr Himaanga said the assessment done in Mondengwa ward established that selected farms situated along Mungwi and Mumbwa roads are being flooded by storm water originating from Lusaka city.
“The absence of a properly engineered drainage system has resulted in uncontrollable runoff discharging into farm lands instead of being directed into a neutral water course’’, he said.
Mr Himaanga explained that in Mwembeshi ward nine houses collapsed and 15 fields were affected after experiencing heavy downpours.
He noted that the technical team which comprised local leadership and various government departments resolved that farmers need sensitisation to stop farming in flood prone areas and also the best time to plant and the type of seed best for the soil type.
“The flooding observed across the assessed areas is largely attributable to a combination of inadequate drainage infrastructure, uncontrollable storm water flows and solid waste management failures,’’ he said.