MORE than 12000 villagers in the Chiawa area about 100km from the Zambian capital Lusaka have been hit by floods after the gates of Kariba dam were opened last week. A spokesman for the villagers said that houses and crops have been washed away and that they are appealing for compensation from the Zambezi River Authority, which manages the vast dam. Vice-President Christon Tembo told state radio that the government will airlift relief food to the area. The floodgates were opened to relieve pressure on the dam, which provides hydroelectric power for both Zambia and Zimbabwe.