Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – The Minister of Green Economy and Environment and Chairperson of the Lake Tanganyika Authority Conference of Ministers, Mike Elton Mposha, has urged the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Burundi, and Zambia to urgently address the rising water levels in Lake Tanganyika, which have caused significant socio-economic challenges.
Speaking at the Third Extraordinary Meeting of the Lake Tanganyika Authority (LTA) Conference of Ministers in Dar es Salaam, Minister Mposha highlighted the devastating impacts of the flooding on the four countries sharing the lake. He noted that the current rise in water levels is the highest recorded in 60 years, primarily attributed to climate change and unsustainable human activities.
The floods have affected human lives, health, economies, and societies in the region, threatening to derail national development plans and the achievement of sustainable development goals. In Zambia, several infrastructure projects, including schools, health posts, roads, and houses, have been damaged due to the rising waters.
Minister Mposha emphasized the need for united action among the four riparian countries to find lasting solutions to this pressing challenge. He called for continued collaboration, cooperation, and implementation of regional and national programs to prevent further damage to infrastructure and loss of life.
In addition to the flooding, Minister Mposha also informed the LTA Member States that Zambia is facing a severe drought affecting over six million people. President Hakainde Hichilema has declared the drought a national disaster and emergency. Zambia is grateful for the humanitarian support from Burundi and Tanzania, which has allowed the importation of maize to aid affected populations.
The Deputy Ministers of State from Tanzania, DRC, and Burundi expressed their support for the meeting’s objective and emphasized the importance of finding sustainable solutions to the rising water levels in Lake Tanganyika.
Story Source: Zambian Observer
