Floods: 13 rivers

MBABANE – The torrential rains that fell all over the country for almost seven consecutive days led people to fear that a cyclone had hit the country once again.

Further fueling the panic were reports by the Royal Swaziland Police that at least 13 rivers were confirmed as overflowing by late yesterday. Small streams are also swelling with reports of a pupil from one of the prominent schools in Mbabane being swept away by floods.

The last time Swaziland experienced a cyclone (that is commonly referred to as Zamcolo) was in 1984, when the worst floods to hit the kingdom killed livestock, destroyed hundreds of homes, flooded roads and offices and some people died.  
While no deaths, resulting from drowning, due to the rains had been reported by the time of compiling this report, police have since sent a strong warning to people to avoid crossing the flooded rivers.

“We would like to sternly advise children, the elderly and motorists not to attempt crossing rivers that are flooded and whose bridges or any crossing point is not visible.
“The rivers are dangerous at the moment and people should seek accommodation in nearby homesteads instead of risking their lives,” assistant police PRO Sergeant Steven Dlamini cautioned.

Reports from the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) are that a large number of pupils have not been able to attend school, especially in the Shiselweni region, because of the continued rains.

 “Pupils haven’t been able to go to school and this is a disaster because some of them were writing external exams while others were supposed to sit for their internal tests,” SNAT Secretary General Muzi Mhlanga lamented.
He said they anticipated that there were more pupils affected by the rains, especially those in remote areas.
A similar situation was witnessed in 1984 when pupils failed to attend the opening of schools due to flooded rivers and swept away homes.   

Like the 1984 cyclone, the current persistent rains have been mostly in the Highveld and latest rainfall statistics supplied by the Swaziland Meteorology Department reflect that between Wednesday and Thursday, Mbabane amassed the highest precipitation of 83.6 millimetres.
Other areas in the Highveld that collected large amounts of rain include Mayiwane (72mm) and Piggs Peak (61.5mm) both of which are in the Northern Hhohho region.

Senator Chief Magudvulela, who vividly remembers the cyclone Domoina that hit the country in 1984, said the current rains made him think about the past storm but set a benchmark that for the current rains to be termed a cyclone, the Usuthu River at Mndobandoba would have to overflow.

Interestingly, this particular river was one of those confirmed by the police as overflowing.
The other flooded rivers include Ntambande (next to Ludzidzini), Ntintinyane (Khalangilile), Mawelalwela (Lushikishini), Mtungulube (Mahlangatsha), Nkomazi (Khalangilile), Ngwempisi (Mankayane), Mbuluzi (Mgotjane), Lusutfu (Luhleko), Mzimnene (Hhohho), Mbuluzi (Luve), Macudvulwini (Mankayane), Usuthu (Mndobandoba) and Mbabane river (next to SOS school).

Senator Bhutana Dlamini, even though reluctant to talk, said the persistent rains were beginning to be cause for concern despite that the country does need them for agricultural purposes.