Lusaka City Needs Approximately $1 Billion To Manage Stormwater

Lusaka City has been facing significant challenges in managing stormwater due to inadequate resources for the Local Authority to address the problem.

LCC Public Relations Manager Chola Mwamba said the Council requires an estimated $1 billion to effectively manage stormwater over the next 25 years.

Ms. Mwamba notes that the city's flooding problems, worsened by climate change, have become a major concern, particularly in parts of the Central Business District (CBD) and unplanned settlements in areas such as Chaisa, Garden, Kalikiliki, Kanyama, and Ng'ombe, among other places.

She further explains that the Council is working to provide remedial measures in flood-affected areas, but the scale of the problem requires additional support.

Ms. Mwamba adds that the Local Authority has been addressing the issue by removing debris and silt from drains, building new drains in areas with inadequate drainage infrastructure, and repairing and upgrading existing drains, culverts, and bridges, among other works.

She acknowledged that despite these efforts, the recent heavy downpours have continued to cause flooding and added that the council is therefore appealing to companies and stakeholders to contribute to flood mitigation efforts through their corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Ms. Mwamba reaffirmed that the Local Authority is committed to finding sustainable solutions to manage stormwater and ensure public safety and health.