Saulos Chilima wants more on tree planting
Vice-President Saulos Chilima has urged community members to plant trees as one way of managing and controlling disasters in the country.
Chilima, who is also Minister of Disaster Management Affairs, said yesterday that citizens should strive to build structures that can withstand any type of disaster.
“Most of the households have been affected because of lack of trees for protection. As we go forward, one of the messages that we are sending is that communities should participate in tree planting exercises and those with capacity should have strong structures,” Chilima said.
He made the remarks when he visited victims of floods in Traditional Authority Makanjira, Salima District.
Following a downpour on February 9 this year, 449 households were affected, leading to the displacement of 29 of them.
Some of the relief items distributed include bags of maize, blankets, plastic buckets, salt and other household utilities.
Chilima has also assured the victims of more support.
Salima District Commissioner, Charles Mawembe, asked the department to consider constructing dykes in areas that are mostly affected by floods.
“Floods here mostly occur in lowland areas and, I think, one way of managing this in the long run is to have dykes in place. We also need to regulate the construction area,” Mawembe said.
As of February 7 this year, 72,661 people were affected by disasters across the country, with 93 injuries and 16 deaths.
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