Put contingency plans into action; PSs, Provincial Administration heads told

Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, has officially launched Zambia’s national seasonal rainfall forecast outlook for 2026/2027 rain season. Speaking during the launch in Lusaka, Mr Kangwa said Zambia is among those countries in Southern Africa which are expected to…

Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, has officially launched Zambia’s national seasonal rainfall forecast outlook for 2026/2027 rain season.

Speaking during the launch in Lusaka, Mr Kangwa said Zambia is among those countries in Southern Africa which are expected to experience a drier and hotter than usual season with conditions linked to the El Nino.

Mr Kangwa said that the outlook is based on the findings of the 33rd Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum, known as SARCOF-33, which brought together climate experts from across the region in Swakopmund in Namibia.

“SADC Ministers and climate experts have called on us to stop waiting for disasters and prepare early instead. Guided by that call, the Meteorological Department has taken these regional findings and worked out what they mean for each part of our country,” Mr Kangwa said.

He further said in the 2023/2024 season, Zambia experienced El Nino induced dry spells which withered the crops, emptied the water reservoirs and killed livestock.

Mr Kangwa added that the parts of the country that will be affected by the El Nino include the northern belt, the central transition zone and the southern belt.

The Secretary to Cabinet has since directed all Permanent Secretaries and Provincial Administration heads to immediately put their contingency plans into action.

He added that the government’s response to the El Nino must be targeted in every sector that depends on the weather.

These sectors are agriculture and food security, water resources and energy, health and disaster risk management.

And Ministry of Green Economy and Environment Permanent Secretary Douty Chibamba said timely and accurate information dissemination is important as it allows for early action by those responsible.

Dr Chibamba added that the collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Disaster Risk Management Division (NDRMD) is designed to achieve transformative outcomes across the farming communities that address various aspects.

He further said the aspects include productivity, resilience, planning, food security and incomes.

“Safeguarding our economy and our people against climate shocks demands a level of multi-sectoral coordination and early action,” Dr Chibamba said.

Meanwhile, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Zambia, James Wakiaga, said the national seasonal rainfall forecast outlook is a critical planning tool that enables farmers, communities, businesses and policy makers to make informed decisions as well as managing climate rate and protecting livelihoods.

“For Zambia, it is always important that farmers have reliable information given that they need to know what to plant, when to plant and how best to manage the available resources,” Mr Wakiaga said.

He added that in an era of increasing climate variability, access to climate information is not a luxury but a necessity