By Lumbiwe Mwanza
PERSISTED flash floods experienced almost every year in Zambia require the implementation of effective water resource management techniques, Germany Ambassador to Zambia Anne Wagner-Mitchell has said.
Speaking to The Scoop, Ms Wagner–Mitchell says it is good that Zambia has experienced favourable rains but that there is need to ensure that rain water does not cause floods and be wasted.
“We see a lot of rain, but the rain water is just washing away and not going underground to help raise water levels. There is a need to ensure effective water resource management techniques” Ms Wagner–Mitchell said.
She said effects of climate change continue to have negative impacts such as flash floods and that digging trenches to capture rain water into various water bodies will help refill and raise the water levels.
Ms. Wagner–Mitchell further affirmed her country’s commitment to working with the Zambian Government in mitigating effects of climate change in the agriculture sector.
“In regards to mitigating effects of climate change we have laid some interventions with the Ministry of Agriculture to promote climate smart agricultural practices” Ms. Wagner–Mitchell said.
She further pointed out the need for Zambia to collect more researched climate change data and then evaluate it before implementing climate change solutions.
