Since the time Tropical Cyclone Freddy hit the Southern Region of Malawi back in March 2023, life has never been the same for the victims who were affected and displaced as their dreams were shattered, lives bruised and property left in ruins.
But now there is a flicker of hope for the 105,902 people (about 23,533 households) in Nsanje, Chikwawa, Machinga, Mulanje, Zomba, Chiradzulu and Thyolo who are trying to pick up the pieces as the government, through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), intends to relocate them to safer and higher areas.
Dodma spokesperson, Chipiliro Khamula, confirmed to Times in an interview that they are indeed working hand in hand with the seven councils of the concerned districts for the relocation exercise.
He said the councils have made good progress in land identification such that they expect the people to be relocated before the onset of this year’s rainfall season.
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“The role of councils is mainly to identify land for relocation, in consultation with the affected people, chiefs and other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Lands and humanitarian partners,” he said.
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A lack of social amenities in the identified areas for relocation remains a concern, but Khamula was quick to point out that they are working towards a dignified resettlement.
He however was non-committal when asked about how much the exercise will cost, saying there are so many factors involved.
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation Executive Director, Michael Kaiyatsa, said there is need for consultations with those that are to be relocated.
“It’s not good to impose on people about where they will be relocated to but they should be consulted too so that the relocation should be accepted and I am saying this because there have been times when people have been relocated to places where they don’t like and they ended up going back to areas they were before,” he said.
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Besides the Tropical Storm Freddy victims, a total of 6000 households, which is approximately 27,000 people that were affected by Tropical Storm Ana, cyclones Idai and Gombe, were moved to safer places in Chikwawa District.
In March this year, Cyclone Freddy landed in Malawi and had a devastating effect in the Southern Region, which saw a state of disaster being declared in 14 districts that were severely affected.
Additionally, public infrastructure such as schools, health facilities and roads were damaged in all affected districts.
Over 500, 000 people were displaced by the storm and many others died while some were reported missing.
