City of Windhoek officials led by mayor Job Amupanda and his fellow councillors at the weekend urged residents who regularly experience flooding to move to higher ground in response to the heavy rainfall received in recent days.
City’s spokesperson Harold Akwenye said a delegation visited all the informal settlements in Windhoek to assess the impact of floods in the affected areas and to determine the necessary interventions to mitigate the situation. Akwenye added residents mostly affected are those with structures in riverbeds. He said the affected residents have been registered and will be moved to higher ground. “The process has started and it is mostly Havana and Otjomuise that dominated. We are keeping an eye on all other areas,” said Akwenye.
According to Akwenye, the City was in the process of identifying land close to the low-lying areas, considering the fact that many affected residents are refusing to move far away from their homes. “But they understood that we were doing it (relocation) in their best interest.
Those who mostly refused or go back to their areas are the ones who will be affected by the flood,” said Akwenye.
The municipality has advised residents living in informal areas of the city to avoid settling in riverbeds, water channels and other low-lying areas due to the dangers posed by flash floods.
– ljason@nepc.com.na