Rising water levels in Lake Malawi have reached a 45-year high, presenting a severe threat to lakeshore farming, tourism, and downstream electricity generation, according to Nation Online. The National Water Resources Authority issued a warning that farms and infrastructure located below the 477 metres above sea level contour line are at risk of being submerged if the current trend continues.
The surge is attributed to continuous above-normal rainfall, which has channelled massive volumes of water through major rivers and into the lake, Nation Online reports. Masozi Kasambala, a spokesperson for the National Water Resources Authority, stated that the mean lake level stood at 475.69 metres above sea level as of late February. This measurement is notably higher than the levels recorded during the past two rainy seasons, though it remains slightly below the all-time record of 477.22 metres above sea level set in 1980.
The environmental challenges are compounding an already difficult rainy season for the country. The Department of Disaster Management Affairs reported that stormy rains, strong winds, lightning, and flash floods have affected 39,492 households across 30 councils, according to Nation Online. Disaster management officials maintain that the threat of further flash floods remains elevated in lakeshore and low-lying areas, driven by the inter-tropical convergence zone.