IMPACTS OF FLOODS ON SOCIO- ECONOMIC LIVELIHOODS OF PEOPLE THE CASE STUDY OF T/A MWAMBO IN ZOMBA, SOUTHERN MALAWI

Floods are the most devastating hazards that have significant adverse impacts on people and their livelihoods. Their impacts can be reduced by investing on: 1) improving the forecasting skills of extreme and heavy rainfall events, 2) development of Impacts Based Flood Early Warning System (IBFEWS) and 3) effective communication of impacts from anticipated extreme or heavy rainfall event. The development of IBFEWS however, requires a complete understanding of factors that relates to the formation of extreme or heavy rainfall events and their associated socio-economic impacts. This information is crucial in the development of Impacts Based Flood Forecasting Models (IBFFMs). The study assessed the socio-economic impacts of the December 2020 flood event in T/A Mwambo, Zomba district as the preliminary stage which can be used in the development of IBFFMs for the area. Data from household survey collected using systematic random sampling techniques and structured questionnaires was used. The survey was conducted to acquire respondent's views on the causes of flood impacts, adaptive capacity to extreme or heavy rainfall events and adaptation options to minimize flood impact. During the direct observations it was found that the main causes of floods are river overflow due to heavy rainfall and blocked drainage system. Poor infrastructure such as drainage and houses exacerbate the observed impacts of the December 2020 flood event in the area. Death cases analysis showed that no one was reported dead or missing. The flood event damaged properties worth of 7.5 million of kwachas. Furthermore, the Malawi Government spent a total amount of 1.83 million Kwacha to rescue and relocate vulnerable communities that lived in low-lying areas of Mwambo to high ground areas of the district.

Their impacts can be reduced by investing on: 1) improving the forecasting skills of extreme and heavy rainfall events, 2) development of Impacts Based Flood Early Warning System (IBFEWS) and 3) effective communication of impacts from anticipated extreme or heavy rainfall event. The study assessed the socio-economic impacts of the December 2020 flood event in T/A Mwambo, Zomba district as the preliminary stage which can be used in the development of IBFFMs for the area. The survey was conducted to acquire respondent's views on the causes of flood impacts, adaptive capacity to extreme or heavy rainfall events and adaptation options to minimize flood impact. Furthermore, the Malawi Government spent a total amount of 1.83 million Kwacha to rescue and relocate vulnerable communities that lived in low-lying areas of Mwambo to high ground areas of the district.

According to Zomba City Council (The City RAP for Zomba City, 2020), the study area is among the most vulnerable areas in Zomba. This is the very reason the area is chosen as a host for the study. With many studies concentrating on large rivers, rural research which investigates socio economic livelihoods in the proposed study area is limited to a few sources, like those of PDNA (2019). In this regard, the impact of flood on socio-economic livelihoods will be assessed and strategies and developmental options to remedy the flood consequences will be reviewed both at national scale and the study area.

Traditional authority: TA Mwambo

District: Zomba

Coordinates: -15.4653, 35.5092