Maputo — Flooding in the Zambezi valley has now cut off access to two district capitals, in the western province of Tete, reports Wednesday's issue of the Beira daily paper "Diario de Mocambique".

One of the towns cut off is Zumbo, which is near the point where Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Zambia all meet, and the other is Nhamayabue, capital of Mutarara district, on the middle Zambezi.

Further downstream, the Zambezi has exceeded flood alert levels at both Caia and Marromeu, though the situation is not yet alarming in either town.

The flood in Zumbo is largely caused by water rushing down a major Zambezi tributary, the Arangua, in Zambia. Much of the water from the upper Zambezi is being held in the Cahora Bassa lake, and the Cahora Bassa dam has not yet been obliged to increase its discharges.

But there are several major tributaries below the dam - notably the Revobue, the Shire and the Luenha - all of which are very high and are thus contributing to the problems faced by Mutarara, Caia and Marromeu.

Further south, in Sofala province, the Buzi, Pungue, Metuchira and Muda rivers all remain above flood alert level. 475 households, threatened by the rising waters, have been evacuated to a temporary accommodation set up in a primary school at Muda-Mufo, in Nhamatanda district.

The Mozambique Red Cross (CVM) has boats available in the Zambezi and Buzi basins, should search and rescue operations prove necessary.

Sergio Moiane, the administrator of Buzi district, warned that the situation in Buzi town is becoming critical. The river has now flooded the town, and the main road out of Buzi is impassable. The ferry across the river remains out of operation, thus cutting Buzi town off from the entire southern part of the district.