| dc.description |
Every year flooding of Songwe River has brought severe problems in the lower part
of its catchment located in Kyela District. Frequently floods lead to loss of people's
lives, destructions of infrastructures and properties. This study made an assessment
of floods and their management practices in Songwe River Catchment particularly at
Kabanga and Ndwanga villages which are found in Kyela District (Mbeya Region).
The specific Objectives were to identify the main patterns of floods, detect the
relationships between rainfall and water stages for a long-term period and assessment
of the management practices and the roles of the government institutions in the
reduction of the flood effect. The study used household survey and key informant
interviews to collect data from 83 households and 9 key informants. The collected
both primary and secondary data were analyzed through Hydrometeorological Data
Screening, Flood Recurrence Interval Theory, Stochastic Hydrological Models and
Statistical Parameters. From the findings of the study, an analysis of rainfall at
Tenende Weather Station and water levels at Kasumulu Gauge Station helped to
identify flood patterns. Particularly, the Songwe River catchment has been
experiencing a uni-modal season of rains, where all precipitations fall in one season.
The floods were grouped into three categories: floods with single peak; floods with
several peaks and sprawled floods. Thus, the study results show that the villages of
Kabanga and Ndwanga in Kyela District are affected by floods of different
frequencies every year, latrines were flooded which led to an outbreak of waterborne
diseases. The study recommends for the introduction and implementation of
flood prediction practices, flood policy, and flood fight education. |
|