Mangochi, April 21, Mana: Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, Liana Kakhobwe Chapota has refuted rumours circulating where some people are linking rising water levels in Shire River and Lake Malawi to the closure of Kamuzu Barrage at Liwonde in Machinga District.

Reports indicate that for the past  weeks, water in Lake Malawi and in its tributaries such as Shire River have increased above the sea level, a development which has created fear of flooding to some residents surrounding the lake in Mangochi.

Speaking during her tour to appreciate the levels of water in Lake Malawi at Nkope and Mapira in Mangochi on Friday, Chapota said Kamuzu Barrage has never been closed, adding that the rising water levels in Lake Malawi is as a result of heavy rainfall that was experienced in the neighbouring Tanzania and other eastern countries.

Chapota added that the level of water which is currently flowing at Kamuzu Barrage downstream is more than the volume that was passing through within the same period last year.

‘‘Let me emphasise that we have not closed and never shall we close the Kamuzu Barrage at Liwonde in Machinga. In fact, if the barrage was closed, the country would not have been able to generate electricity.’’

‘‘What has happened is that due to the increased rainfall in Tanzania and other eastern countries, the level of water in Lake Malawi has risen above the sea by 66 centimetres, as of April last year, water increased by 475.3 meters and this year it has risen by 475.89 meters,’’ said Chapota.

Kamuzu Barrage was constructed to regulate the flow of water from Lake Malawi to Shire River, for proper generation of hydro power.

According to the Board Chairperson for National Water Resources Authority, Engineer James Mambulu, levels of water in Lake Malawi are likely to continue increasing in the next coming months.

Sub Traditional Authority Chiwalo of Mangochi urged his subordinates at Nkope, whose villages have currently been submerged in water, to relocate to upper land.

‘‘This is the right time for people to consider moving to the upper land before any disaster may occur,’’ said Chiwalo.

Some of the notable figures who accompanied the deputy minister on the tour included Member of Parliament for Mangochi Monkey Bay, Ralph Jooma, Traditional Authority Mapira and some government officials.

Mana/bw/and/scm