Water levels in Lake Malawi have reached their highest point in years, prompting the National Water Resources Authority to increase discharge from the Kamuzu Barrage at Liwonde. According to Maravi Express, the lake currently stands at 476.01 metres above sea level. This marks a 0.46-metre increase over the same period last year, with projections suggesting the water could reach 476.4 metres by May 2026. The rise is attributed to heavy rainfall across Malawi's Central and Northern regions, as well as parts of Tanzania.
In response to the rising lake, the barrage is releasing approximately one million litres of water per second into the Shire River to protect lakeshore communities from further swelling. Department of Water Development Secretary Henrie Njoloma warned that while Shire River levels have not yet triggered floods, the public should remain cautious of the high likelihood of riverine flooding in the coming weeks.
In a separate regional conservation update, Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique have officially launched a $7.12 million Global Environment Facility project to protect the shared Ruvuma River Basin, according to Inter Press Service. The cross-border initiative aims to restore roughly 88,620 hectares of degraded ecosystems and improve land management across nearly 280,000 hectares, directly benefiting over 50,000 people.
James Chitete, head of the Malawian delegation at the launch in Dar es Salaam, stated that the project focuses on safeguarding ecosystems and ensuring natural resources benefit future generations. The initiative will promote nature-based solutions such as forest restoration, wetland conservation, and sustainable agriculture to combat pressures from deforestation, soil erosion, and changing climate patterns.