News In Southern Region (3242)
DoDMA Wants Cyclone Freddy Survivors Relocated by End of August
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) has maintained its August 31, 2023 deadline for councils to complete the relocation process of tropical cyclone Freddy survivors.
DODMA commissioner, Charles Kalemba says, so far, district councils namely; Mulanje, Phalombe, Chiradzulu, Mangoch, Blantyre city and partly Nsanje have already identified land and some have started relocating the survivors.
According to Kalemba, DODMA only supports councils where they need assistance.
“DoDMA also facilitates provision of certain amenities. For example, in Nsanje, Makhanga area, DoDMA has disbursed funds to the district council to drill boreholes.
“We are targeting the places where people are supposed to be relocated to or have already started being relocated to.
He further said: “We have been meeting councils and given ourselves August end. We must make sure we have identified land and either complete the relocation or start the survivors' relocation.”
Nsanje district council spokesperson, Robert Nayeja confirmed receipt of the funds on Thursday, saying efforts are in place to meet the set deadline.
“We have received K15 million towards the sinking of boreholes for those seeking relocation.
“We are working with community leaders to identify land where we can relocate the survivors, but also conduct assessments to ascertain if the land is appropriate for relocation,” explained Nayeja.
According to Nayeja, the findings of the assessments are submitted to DoDMA for payment of compensation.
Records indicate that cyclone Freddy, which hit the country early this year, claimed over 1000 lives and more than half a million were displaced.
Recently, Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Regional Coordinator for the South, Victor Khwima, dared authorities to speed up the relocation process so the survivors can rebuild their lives.
COPUA Urges Citizenry to Persuade Law Makers to Deliberate On Abortion Bill
The Coalition for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion (COPUA) has observed that Members of Parliament will continue to avoid tabling the Pregnancy Termination Bill unless they are persuaded to do so by the citizenry themselves.
PACOSALI Disburses K1.2 Million Business Loans in Thyolo
The PACOSALI Foundation Limited says high interests on loans are suffocating many small and medium enterprises in rural areas.
Spotlight Initiative Leaves a Mark in MHG
Authorities in Machinga have disclosed that 1909 girls from 22 traditional authorities have been withdrawn from early marriages since the inception of the European Union and United Nations funded Spotlight Initiative (SI) in the district in 2019.
Jehovah's Witnesses Intensifies Bible-Based Education
The Jehovah’s Witness has encouraged reading and writing through a free Bible Education Program in the country.
Malnutrition, Maternal and Neonatal Deaths, Thorny Issues After Cyclone Freddy
Mary Mpemba is a mother of six children. She hails from Chidothi village in the area of Traditional Authority Mulumbe in Zomba.
Bengol Net Makes Progress in Connecting Malawi
Bengol Net Managing Director, Mohammad Zafar Abdullah, says the work of connecting the internet in public facilities is progressing well in various districts and cities such as Blantyre and Mzuzu.
UNDP Transform Project Beneficiaries in MHG Flourishing
Beneficiaries under a UNDP and Japanese Supplementary Budget (JSB) funded Transform Project in Machinga are now reaping fruits from the project which has improved their economic wellbeing as well as promoting tolerance to shocks of natural disasters.
Thyolo Man Sentenced to 10 Years IHL for Robbery
A 29-year old man, Gift Chitekwe, 29, will spend the next 10 years in jail in Thyolo for robbing a business man of K380,000 and cutting his finger.
Operation Smile Supports Cyclone Freddy Survivors in Phalombe
A charitable organization Operation Smile Malawi says it has reached 38 people who were affected by Tropical cyclone Freddy with food and iron sheets to help them recover from the shocks.
