As heavy rains persist in the Zambezi region, residents of Sibbinda Constituency have found themselves flooded in their homesteads.

Residents say food and household appliances are damaged by the water, while the daily operation of schools and local businesses in the area is also affected.

The situation has become dire for the residents, as food and household appliances are damaged by the water. Daily operation of schools and local businesses in the area is also affected.

Residents are therefore calling on the government to help relocate them to higher ground.

"In they told us Mr Vevi will come and monitor those who are affected. He came and wrote our names; Mr Vevi tried and only managed to get 2 tents, and those tents could not accommodate all of us. So as a community we decided to give those tents to those who were severely affected and had little children. This level of water was the one under their beds. And for us, that's how we remained suffering like this in this dirty water. As you can see, we now have fungal infections, complained affected resident Mwangala Malumbalo.

Mubuso Kawana is the principal of Sibbinda Combined School.

"It's the situation that even made me write letters requesting temporary fencing of the pond because I am afraid that one of my learners might lose one of the learners in this water. It's so deep, as you can see the man who entered the water there. It comes up to the knees, so imagine if it's like that with an older person; how about a learner in grade 1 or in pre-primary? It's a situation that really needs urgent intervention; otherwise, we are likely to lose a learner, God forbid, but the situation is really terrible. And it's affecting teaching and learning because every now and then we have to exchange making turns to come and check in case there is a learner swimming or there is a learner playing in the water."

Local businessman Stephen Tuombale adds, "I am doing construction, and that place, honestly speaking, is where I rely. I am not working, and I only rely on that workshop of mine. What I do there is a lot; I do the tables, and I repair chairs a lot. I can mention that's where I survive, but now it is flooded. For that flood, it will disturb me, and I cannot relocate from there because, one, I have machines that are using electricity. I have electricity inside there. So that electricity that I am using for the drill, welding machine and other things to use it really makes me feel bad. Even if you tell me to relocate where there is no electricity, how will I survive?"

Sibbinda Constituency councillor Matengu Nkando said his office has identified a location to relocate the residents to and so far has managed to secure some mattresses and tents.

"Even though we only received three tents, and we are promised to receive seven more tomorrow. So we are going to relocate our people from their homes to the new home, where our people will reside until the place is dry."

Nkando added that he was able to secure over N$ 20,000 from sponsors to aid in food purchases and transporting the residents to higher ground.
The area was last flooded in 2006.