Heavy rains in Zambia leave 1,600 people homeless, official says

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Heavy rains in Zambia’s North-Western province left at least 1,600 people homeless, a government official said on Wednesday.

At least 560 houses were destroyed in different parts of the Mufumbwe district, said District Commissioner Elijah Munyompe.

“Right now, we are appealing to the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to urgently send relief food and tents for the victims. Some affected families have sought refuge with relatives, while others are accommodated in church buildings,” he said.

Zambia, a southern African nation, has its rainy season between the months of October and May. While the country’s southern regions are witnessing dry spells, other regions are experiencing heavy rains.

Late last month, Gabriel Pollen, the head of the DMMU, told reporters that 7,000 houses nationwide had been affected by floods, displacing 1,066 families.