By Rebecca Chimjeka, Isaac Salima, Grecium Gama, Cathy Maulidi:
Commissioner for Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) Charles Kalemba has told Times on Monday that about 40 people have died due to Tropical Cyclone Freddy.
Since Saturday, Blantyre has been receiving heavy rains accompanied by strong winds, believed to have been triggered by Cyclone Freddy.
“As of noon, we have received reports that 40 people have died but excavation continues,” Kalemba said.
In Ndirande Township’s Zambia location, our reporters were welcomed by sorry sight of damaged houses and in one instance, our crew had to come to the aid of two children who were injured and had to be rushed to hospital.
There were more devastating scenes in Chilobwe Township where some people are said to have also lost their lives and property while those injured were rushed to hospital for medical care.
Elsewhere in Phalombe District, people abandoned their homes in Makwate Village under Chief Nyambalo’s area after a mudslide in Namangale Hill.
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara has given permission to members of Parliament from the Southern Region to return to their constituencies.
Mwanza West Member of Parliament Joyce Chitsulo, who is also Chairperson for Public Appointments Committee, has told Times that the Speaker has allowed them to go back to their constituencies to be with their people, who are currently going through difficult times.
This means that the MPs will not be part of the cluster committees currently scrutinizing the 2023/24 national budget.
