Heavy rains on Wednesday night have left dozens of households in Chotto Compound homeless after floodwaters inundated their homes, ruining food supplies, documents and personal belongings.

Residents were seen desperately sweeping water from their houses as the downpour continued unabated. The flooding exposed ongoing drainage problems in the area despite years of complaints to the town council.

Nzila Libongani, an affected resident, voiced her desperation over her child's soaked statement of results. "I don't even know what I'm supposed to do for her. Our food items and everything else are floating in water," she said. "I'm asking the councillors, the mayor and the governor to help us."

Precious Milinga blamed recent construction work for blocking a culvert near her home. "We unblocked the bridge ourselves because we were the people affected," she explained. "Since that time, we did not have any problem of overflooding, until now."

Wheelchair-bound Rochester Lubasi criticised the plot allocation process, which left him vulnerable. "The plot the town council chose to accommodate me on is not well situated," he said. "Water comes from different directions."

Chotto Compound is one of several Katima Mulilo residential areas prone to flooding during the rainy season.

Mayor Kabende Kabende visited affected homes Thursday morning and expressed particular concern for residents with disabilities. "This is very touching and disheartening," he said. "We are finishing our assessment and returning to the office. Decisions have to be made, and corrective measures must start immediately."

No temporary shelter arrangements have been announced, though drainage operations are expected to begin soon. The mayor's office said full damage assessments would inform relief efforts.