Date: 14th September, 2025

The Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) has conducted awareness and engagement meetings with communities severely affected by the rising water levels of Lake Tanganyika.

In Chipwa village, located at the confluence of the Kalambo River and Lake Tanganyika on the border with Tanzania, public infrastructure, including a primary school, has already been submerged.

WARMA also visited Myamba, a small lakeshore village accessible only by boat, where residents face similar risks. The limited access to both communities underscores the urgency of proactive measures to safeguard lives and property.

During the engagements, WARMA emphasized the dangers of remaining along the lake shores as the rainy season approaches and strongly urged residents to relocate to higher ground. The Authority highlighted the critical need for early action to prevent loss of life and damage to infrastructure.

The WARMA team was joined by a representative of His Royal Highness Senior Chief Tafuna of the Lungu people of Mpulungu, who pledged to continue engaging stakeholders to help identify alternative land for the affected communities.

These community engagements are part of broader awareness and stakeholder engagement campaigns conducted by the Authority. They align with WARMAโ€™s strategic pillars on Stakeholder Engagement, which focuses on building strong relationships with key partners to enhance communication, information sharing, and integrated water resources management, and Public Awareness and Visibility, aimed at increasing the publicโ€™s understanding of water resource issues and the Authorityโ€™s presence in communities.

As outlined in its 2022โ€“2026 Strategic Plan, WARMA seeks to support Zambiaโ€™s economic growth through effective water resources governance and management. The planโ€™s strategic direction prioritizes sustainable water management and the protection of vital water resources for current and future generations.