In this two-part series—which has been produced with support from the Louise Behan Grant, an initiative of the World Federation of Science Journalists— RICHARD CHIROMBO analyses the potential strengths and weaknesses of existing scientific approaches to flood management and their impact on reducing flood-related damage in the Shire Valley.

Innovator Nankhumwa, who was born on January 1, 2000 and is an ICT student, said he decided to come up with his innovation because he has always believed that “youths are not leaders of tomorrow; rather, they are leaders of today”.

“This realisation was especially important because it is us, youths, who are being exposed to natural disasters more often than our parents. This means because we are facing problems today, we must be part of the solution now.

“Actually, the floods detector I am using is the third one. I first installed one in Namalaka area, Zomba, last year. It was stolen. We then installed another one in the river; it was stolen again. This is the third one,” Nankhumwa says, pointing at the device.

Basically, the device, which is fitted to a tree in Likangala River, has sensors, which are connected to a megaphone n alarm that is, itself, connected to a server at the University of Malawi (Unima)’s main campus in Zomba City. When water levels rise, the alarm sounds.

“We are now working on software that will enable us to alert community members through a short message service (SMS) tool in our quest to protect lives and property so that, in these times of storms and floods, people should not be living in fear,” Nankhumwa says.

By “us”, he is including Shadreck Kamwana, with whom he is working on an application they want to put on Playstore.

When we found him at Unima campus, he was busy observing data that was being produced by the server.

Readings on the display tablet indicated as follows:

Temperature: 25 degrees Celsius

Humidity: 27.80

Water [levels]: Normal

“This means the situation is, back at Likangala River, normal. There is no imminent threat of floods,” Kamwana, a bachelor of science student at Unima, says.

Kamwana says they have made inroads on the issue of utilising technology to predict the occurrence of floods and other natural phenomena, expressing hope that they expect to have a more vibrant and updated system within the next two years.

As for Nankhumwa, he is always looking forward to creating something big.

He says he is always motivated by a certificate of recognition for his work, which he displays in his house in Chizalo area, Zomba.

It reads: Certificate of Innovation Award: This certificate is proudly presented to Steward Nankhumwa. His overall aptitude for technological innovation has been recognised by organisations seeking to foster and support young ta