The National Council Standing Committee on Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources has called for the review of the disaster risk management policy to address bottlenecks that prevent the timely implementation of disaster relief programmes.

The committee had an oversight visit to assess the impact of floods in the Zambezi Region.

It was also suggested that a dedicated disaster risk fund be established for the Zambezi Region for immediate first-response procurement of tents, sanitation units, and medical supplies without waiting for the office of the prime minister's approval.

"The Zambezi regional council and office of the prime minister to form a benchmark to ensure that they form a benchmark regional flood mitigation strategy against international jurisdictions that successfully manage seasonal floods in a highly sustainable and non-disruptive manner. Public-private partnership and infrastructure engineering for major construction and constructor engineering projects in the flood-prone areas of the Zambezi region," said National Council MP Abner Shikongo.

It was also suggested that the minister of urban and rural development, in conjunction with the Zambezi Regional Council, establish pre-service relocation infrastructure.

These are some of the contributions from the MPs.

National Council MP Piniel Pakarae asked, "How does the committee in this case use the calendar for the Zambezi region? What I was listening to was the recommendation. What does it say if you are considering or recommending a calendar school calendar for the Zambezi region?"

"It doesn't make any sense that we sent boats to relocate people, but after the flood, people go back to their residential area, waiting for another year to come and flood returns again to them," added MP Adolf Uunona.

MP Joseph Sikongo reiterated, "There's no space in Zambezi where you can tell a person to really, unfortunately, when you come up with that recommendation to relocate, it will mean, like, you are really disturbing people; you are really like, 'You are not honest,' and there's no space."

"I think the report is very clear; it elaborates and says there were certain areas that are identified as relocation centres, and in those centres, then they would be able to construct, for example, maybe clinics, not necessarily clinics, but the housing in terms of accommodation for the people, sanitation and water, so that that solution will go a long way in terms of resolving the problem," concluded MP Kennedy Simasiku.