Zambian Vice-President Mutale Nalumango said on Thursday, 11 December, that an estimated 617,515 people are expected to be affected during the 2025/2026 rainy season, following an assessment conducted with UN agencies and other partners. The review indicates that 37 districts may face flooding while 46 districts are likely to experience dry spells, impacting a projected 128,649 households nationwide.
Mutale Nalumango said the government has activated key sectoral clusters—including agriculture, food security, livestock, education, energy and health—to mitigate risks to lives, livelihoods and the environment. Authorities are pre-positioning essential supplies in flood-prone areas, enhancing surveillance for human and animal diseases, and encouraging the permanent relocation of communities living in high-risk zones.