Update: Water authorities have opened the Kamuzu Barrage in Liwonde to discharge approximately one million litres of water per second into the Shire River to avert a potential disaster, according to Nyasa Times. The National Water Resources Authority reported that Lake Malawi has surged to 476.01 metres above sea level, an increase of 0.46 metres from the same period last year. Driven by sustained heavy rainfall across central and northern Malawi and parts of Tanzania, the intervention aims to ease pressure on the lake and protect upstream and downstream communities from sudden flooding. Authorities have issued firm reminders that building or cultivating below the 477-metre contour line is illegal and highly dangerous.
Update: Malawi, Tanzania, and Mozambique have officially launched a $7.12 million regional initiative to protect the Ruvuma River Basin, Inter Press Service reports. Funded by the Global Environment Facility, the five-year project aims to combat deforestation, unsustainable land use, and climate change impacts across the shared river system. The initiative will focus on restoring degraded areas, protecting wetlands, and promoting sustainable agriculture to support local communities facing shifting rainfall patterns and extreme flooding.
Update: Malawi is finalising preparations to host the 5th African Regional Conference on Loss and Damage from March 25 to 27, according to Africa Sustainability Matters. The gathering will bring together policymakers, researchers, and civil society leaders to discuss strategies for managing the economic costs of climate disasters. In a separate environmental development, MBC reports that the government has officially validated the Malawi National Ecosystem Assessment Technical Report. The approval followed a review by state institutions, academia, and the National Biodiversity Advisory Committee.