Niël Terblanché
Looming adverse weather conditions threaten to disrupt these commemorations, particularly in the northern regions of the country at the time when the mortal remains of Founding President Sam Nujoma started a tour of seven regions to allow Namibians in rural areas to pay their final respects.
A series of regional memorial services have been organized to honour Nujoma’s legacy.
The Namibian Meteorological Service (NMS), in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister, issued a public weather warning on Wednesday.
The NMS advisory forecasts moderate to heavy thunderstorms over the coming weekend in the Kavango East, Kavango West, and Zambezi regions, with potential flash floods in certain areas.
According to the NMS, the Otjozondjupa region is also expected to experience similar weather conditions on Monday.
Dr. Nujoma’s memorial services are scheduled to take place in Rundu, Kavango East, on 22 February, followed by Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi Region on 23 February, and concluding in Grootfontein, Otjozondjupa Region, on 24 February.
These dates coincide with the predicted adverse weather conditions, raising concerns about potential disruptions to the proceedings.
The NMS’s weather warning specifically highlights the risk of flash floods, noting that affected regions regularly experience flooding during the rainy season due to their proximity to rivers and flat terrain.
Residents and attendees have been advised to stay alert and avoid crossing flooded or fast-flowing water to remain safe.
Local authorities, where these solemn commemorative services are going to be held, were advised to implement precautionary measures against the heavy rains.
Local authorities were also advised to clear drainage systems and ensure the functionality of flood control infrastructure.
Directions also went out to authorities to ensure that emergency relief supplies are pre-positioned in flood-prone towns and that evacuation plans should be reviewed and updated.
The NMS urged the public to avoid being outdoors during thunderstorms, to seek shelter in safe buildings, and to stay away from open areas, tall trees, and metal structures in preparation for possible lightning strikes.
The Namibian government allocated N$7 million to support these regional memorial services to ensure that citizens across all regions can participate in honouring Nujoma’s legacy.
However, the anticipated weather challenges may necessitate adjustments to the planned events.
Organizers were advised to consider contingency plans, including relocating outdoor events to indoor venues where possible or to reschedule certain activities to ensure the safety of attendees.
The NMS requested members of the public to stay informed through official channels for any updates regarding possible severe weather at the venues of the memorial services.
Questions sent to various ministries about specific contingency plans for severe weather events during the planned memorial services went unanswered yesterday.
