Lazarus Chakwera urges Lower Shire people to move upland
President Lazarus Chakwera has urged people in the Lower Shire to abide by warnings and relocate to upper lands to avoid disasters that claim lives, livestock and damage property.
The President said this Friday in Chikwawa in continuation of his visits to areas affected by Cyclone Freddy.
Chakwera who could not proceed to Nsanje because Nkombezi Bridge which connects Nchalo to Nsanje was washed away said short term measures will be put in place to ease mobility challenges.
“I am told other people from Nsanje are not being reached with relief items because of the damaged road. We will come up with short term measures that should help for now so that those people are reached with the required assistance,” he said.
He reiterated calls for unity during this time in helping the people that have been affected.
“We have to be united to deal with the issue at hand with love. Yesterday I visited people that were affected by the cyclone in Blantyre, Mulanje, and Chiradzulu. The damage is enormous we need to be united so that each one of us is supported and feels less burdened during this time,” he said.
In the camps, despair was the prevailing mood.
Lucy Gibson who is seeking refuge at Sekeni camp in the district lost her father on Tuesday night.
“We did not know about the threat of this cyclone and we were in our homes living normally. However, when the rains started over the weekend, Sunday to be precise, we realised maybe this could be another disaster.
“On that night the rains intensified. Unfortunately the house that my father was living in was swamped with water. My father was old. He drowned,” she said.
Humphrey Magalasi, Chikwawa District Relief and Rehabilitation Officer, said his office has so far recorded five deaths from Traditional Authority Makhuwila.
“We have been in touch with people from the communities to help us in compiling a comprehensive report on the damage the cyclone has caused. So far we have recorded five deaths. Of course we are still compiling data but the situation is not as dire as it usually is when floods hit this area,” he said.
Tropical Cyclone Freddy made its second landfall in Malawi on Saturday and affected at least 10 districts in the southern region.
