Expedite disaster bill—Kondwani Nankhumwa
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa has asked the Executive arm of government to expedite the process of bringing the Disaster Management Bill to Parliament.
He said, if enacted, the legislation could help Malawi address factors that contribute to disasters before the disasters happen.
Nankhumwa said this when he visited sites where cyclone survivors are being sheltered in Blantyre.
“Without a legal instrument like the Disaster Management Act, the country will continue struggling with responses to natural disasters.
“The bill impresses me because it proposes that the Department of Disaster Management Affairs be decentralised. It also has provisions on the settlement of people. The bill will take care of things such as relocation of people in disaster-prone areas because ultimatums and court injunctions will only lead to a circus that we are having now,” Nankhumwa said.
Nankhumwa visited camps in Naotcha in Chilobwe, Manja, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and Ndirande.
He indicated that his visit and donation was driven by the need to help the people and understand the situation on the ground for himself.
He asked people not to politicise the situation and that traders should not take advantage, adding that he has written the Democratic Progress Party leadership to release some funds from the Blue Night fundraising event to go to the survivors.
Nankhumwa donated items such as soap, soya pieces, candles, maize flour and salt, among others, to the survivors.
Justin Mkweu is a fast growing reporter who currently works with Times Group on the business desk.
He is however flexible as he also writes about current affairs and national issues.
