• SOME Lusaka roads have experienced floods after heavy rains pounded the capital from Monday night into yesterday morning. Above. Part of the flooded Longolongo road. Picture By JEAN MANDELA.

By JAMES   KUNDA –
FORTY-ONE districts countrywide are anticipated to experience flooding in the current rainy season, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has said.
DMMU head of information management systems Anderson Banda said in an interview yesterday that the agency had since instituted measures to ensure that relief to the probable victims was availed as soon as the adversity occurred.
“Acting on the forecast availed by the Zambia Meteorological Department and the daily updates we have been receiving, 41 districts are likely to experience flooding this season.
“We are already mobilising and planning measures to institute to handle any occurrence of disaster in these districts which are primarily flood-prone,” Mr Banda said.
He said the institution had heightened awareness campaigns to ensure that the public was enlightened on the best practices that could be implemented to address a recurrence of floods.
Mr Banda said habits such as littering were hazardous as most drainage systems, particularly in urban areas, were clogged with materials which prevented easy flow of water.
“So our appeal also extends to the media to partner with the institution in promoting best practices among members of the public so that there is a reduction in flash flooding,” he said.
Mr Banda said the institution would continue liaising with the Meteorological Department to ensure that any disaster likely to occur due to adverse weather conditions was adequately handled.