The Governor of the Zambezi Region, Alufea Sampofu, says education is one of the sectors facing challenges in the region, resulting in poor performance.

Sampofu was speaking during a courtesy call by the European Union delegation.

The governor said although the country produces qualified teachers, learners still perform poorly as a result of a lack of adequate classrooms and a conducive environment, especially in flood-prone areas. 

The president of the Popular Democratic Movement, McHenry Venaani, has called for the establishment of a special fund to assist flood victims in the northern parts of the country.

Venaani tabled and motivated a motion in the National Assembly appealing for help for the population affected by the floods.

While appreciating the N$72 million set aside to assist the affected residents, Venaani says there must be a special fund tailor-made for such eventualities.

The death toll from drowning incidents due to the floods has increased to four. 

The latest incident happened at Onawa in the Oshana Region after a man attempted to make his way home and allegedly drowned in the deep end of a man-made hole that was dug by the town council as an embankment to shield some sections of the town from being flooded. 

Divers have retrieved the body of the deceased from the water. His name cannot be released as his next of kin are yet to be informed. 

Ongwediva Constituency Councillor Andreas Uutoni is dismayed by residents who are trapped in houses by flood waters but are refusing to be relocated.

He says some affected villagers at Elombe who need to be relocated are demanding for individual tents to be erected in their mahangu fields to house them, but he says it is not possible.

Areas that are heavily affected in the Ongwediva Constituency are Eenghala village, Ohambungu, Okatope, Omatunda, Okadila, Oidiva, Onheleiwa, Ongwediva Sky 1,2 and 3 and Reception Area 1,2 and 3.

Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila concluded a three-day visit to areas affected by flood waters from Angola.

Her last stop was in flood-prone areas in the Outapi Constituency.

The Premier was accompanied by Governor Erginus Endjala.

The Minister of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein visited the Omusati Region to assess the flood situation in the Outapi Constituency, as a result of waters from Angola.

At the meeting with Governor Erginus Endjala and the Regional Disaster Risk Management team, Schlettwein urged people not to panic as the flood is not a disaster.

Endjala on his part warned Traditional Authority not to allocate plots to people in flood-prone areas, saying those areas are supposed to be for animal grazing.

The water levels in the Cuvelai flood plains generally known as oshanas have risen due to heavy rains and all necessary precautionary measures need to be in place for possible floods.

This was revealed by the Deputy Director for Hydrology in the Agriculture, Water and Land Reform Pauline Mufeti.

With heavy rains that continue to be recorded in southern Angola, some parts in the North should start bracing itself for more floods.

The Namibia Police (NamPol) has also been on the ground assessing the flood situation in Ohangwena Region, which is advancing towards the Oshana Region.

The aim is to ensure that the police have access to routes leading to villages surrounded by water in case of criminal incidents that might occur, as well as to assist residents in those areas if they become flooded.

The police also looked at the borders between Namibia and Angola, where the Ngungula service station operated.

The good rain received in Windhoek yesterday has brought with it some misery, leaving some residents homeless.

When it rains, it brings relief. But in most cases, the people who live in Windhoek's informal settlements fear floods when they see dark clouds.

The fears of the residents of Oshitenda were confirmed yesterday when heavy rains poured down and flooded their houses.

Those who built their homes in river beds and on the edges are the ones who are affected.