Came cyclone Anna. Came Cyclone Gombe. The devastation was there but on a bearable scale but the bygone cyclone Freddy was the worst, the most violent, and the most fatal so far it has claimed over 300 lives, injured many, and rendered thousands of households homeless as well as destitute.
Following this devastation, the Malawi leader President Chakwera has done all the right things. Immediately after landing at Kamuzu Airport from Qatar, the President traveled to the southern region. He visited flood victims camps in Blantyre, attended the dignified send-off of those who were killed during the disaster, and in the evening addressed the nation where he said that he will be operating in Blantyre and not the capital Lilongwe for the foreseeable future in order to direct and coordinate efforts to contain the disaster and its effects. Fantastic Chakwera on this!
And so yesterday, the President visited flood victim camps in Mulanje. Speaking during the visit, the president said he had ordered the Department of Disaster Management (Dodma) to release the map showing the locations of all camps to the public in his adopt a camp strategy.
“I have therefore directed my officials to release the locations of the camps and the needs in each so that those of you who have the means to help can adopt a camp where you can channel your donations in line with what the camp needs. As I mentioned yesterday, one of our four objectives is to bring those who have lost homes or been left stranded to safety in these shelters so that they can have access to the humanitarian aid they need.”
The government has stepped up its game. Private institutions and individuals have also stepped up their game. The unity of purpose is so envious. As the President said, we will arise from these ashes and rebuild the damaged infrastructures together.
