Dam Synchronisation and Flood Releases - agriwaterpedia.info

DAM SYNCHRONISATION AND FLOOD RELEASES IN THE ZAMBEZI RIVER BASIN: ANNEX 4 OF FINAL REPORT
severe, inhabitants are encouraged to build elevated houses which will allow water to flow
beneath them without being swept away.
Obstacles to effective flood risk zoning that are recognized by those interviewed include:
cultural reasons and beliefs leading to people staying in flood prone areas;
most settlers view their livestock as a symbol of economic wealth, and they do not move to
higher ground during floods because their animals are not be able climb the steep slopes; and
inhabitants who have lived in flood plains and have survived previous floods consider
themselves invincible and therefore not inclined to react to warning systems.
These are practical considerations from persons in the Water and/or Disaster Management
Sectors in Mozambique. In addition, Mozambique is continuing efforts to resettle previous flood
victims to less flood prone areas with funding from donors such as GTZ (INGC website 2010).
Since 2001 temporary refuge areas for floods have been converted to more permanent
resettlement areas (Mozambican government et al., 2007).
Malawi
In Malawi there are bylaws that prevent farming within 50 m of a river, but these are difficult to
implement (interview MIWD, August 2010).
The Ministry of Irrigation and Water Development (Interview August 2010) explained that
attempts to move people out of flood prone areas would have little or no chance of success as
these are highly preferred areas for settlement for obvious reasons related to the high agricultural
potential of floodplain areas. It could be preferable to improve safety and assist people living
within or close to floodplains. There is conflict between the objectives of hunger and poverty
eradication versus environment and flood management. The flood plains are fertile and are less
drought prone; which contrasts with upland settlement areas which lack these basic livelihood
necessities. It was mentioned that the strategies of the government in this regard were to
promote sustainable livelihoods close to the river but away from the high risk flood prone areas.
However, this may not provide a total solution from a flood protection point of view. Current
practice shows that after June of every year, when there is no risk of flooding, people build huts
in the floodplains and start tilling. This cultivation of the floodplains also leads to serious soil
erosion in the flood season.
6.3 Description of investments
Figure 6.2 explains the concept of flood risk zoning, with further explanation in the text in this
section. The concept is illustrated by the Case Studies in Chobe plains and downstream of Caia
(Annex F and G). There are many different ways of Flood Risk Zoning. Box 6-1 illustrates how
the necessary mapping is done in other countries.
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