Water Levels Up By 4 Metres in Lake Tanganyika, Residents Warned of Flooding

By Kalata News

Lusaka, May,2025 – RESIDENTS around Lake Tanganyika have been warned to move their properties to higher ground as water levels rise.

The Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA) has advises communities along Lake Tanganyika to relocate valuables and essential assets to higher ground and to avoid any permanent settlement near the shoreline, in light of the lake’s rapid and concerning rise in water levels.

WARMA forecast indicate that water levels are expected to peak around June 2025. An analysis of water elevation data from 1993 to 2025 reveals that the lake has risen more than 3.7 meters above its lowest recorded level in 2006, with an additional increase of approximately 30 centimetres anticipated by mid-June 2025.

Residents at risks are those in Mpulungu and Nsama districts, particularly those in Mpulungu Harbour, Kasaba Bay, Nsumbu Bay, Nkamba Bay, Chituta Bay, Mbete Bay and other lakeshore communities.

In an advisory, WARMA states that recent observations by WARMA indicate that “the lake’s levels are increasing at an alarming rate, surpassing historical records and causing extensive flooding in areas that were previously not affected.”

“Over the past three rainy seasons, schools, homes and other lakeshore infrastructure have been submerged, and many more properties remain at risk. are urged to remain vigilant and follow official WARMA updates and community alerts,” says Smart Kalaluka, Senior Public Relations Officer at WARMA.

 

There are plans by Government and ZESCO to divert some of these waters from the Luapula basin to the Kafue Basin for use in hydropower generation and for farming activities. A feasibility study had since been done and its results are being discussed.

At the height of the 2023/2024 season’s drought, farmers had no water for their irrigated crops and animals.