District councils are on high alert following a warning of more heavy rains and subsequent floods between today and Friday that are worsening poverty for those affected. The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services said in a statement on Monday that the adverse weather conditions will affect lakeshore areas and several parts of the country. It said the conditions will be characterised by intense downpours, strong winds and frequent lightning.
The forecast has classified Nkhotakota, Salima, parts of Mzimba, Kasungu, Nkhata Bay, Dowa, Mchinji and Ntchisi under category 10 of the alert while Mzuzu, Likoma, Machinga, Mangochi, parts of Zomba and Balaka are in category six. The remaining districts are under category five of warnings. “These risky conditions are due to the low-pressure system in the Mozambique channel and currently enhancing Congo air mass, but expected to pass through Malawi on Wednesday,” explained the statement.
The department also said Tropical Storm Grant, originating from Australia, had weakened and was headed towards Madagascar and that based on its projected path and intensity, it has no direct impact In an interview yesterday, Nkhotakota district commissioner (DC) Ben Tonho said the council has shared the warning with communities, chiefs, members of Parliament (MPs), ward councillors and disaster risk management committees for people living in flood-prone areas to move to higher ground. He said: “Fortunately, in the places affected annually, people have already moved to camps because of the earlier floods. We are in touch with Dodma [Department of Disaster Management Affairs], which has promised to send more relief items to cater for those that may be displaced.” Nkhata Bay DC David Gondwe also said the council already sent a message at the onset of rains about its intensity; hence, they activated their clusters and placed disaster committees on high alert.
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“We are in close correspondence with Dodma. We have a special forum with chiefs, MPs and ward councillors who are tasked with alerting the public of the danger. We are also working with Chirundu Community Radio Station in sensitisation,” he said.
Likoma DC Abubakar Nkhoma said in a separate interview that the rains experienced last week saw more than 500 houses and over 300 toilets collapsing, adding that they are worried that the new alert may see more damage to infrastructure. He said they have observed rising water levels in Lake Malawi, further putting people’s lives and property in danger and have gone flat out to alert residents to evacuate from affected infrastructure. Said Nkhoma : “We have a community hall as a contingency site for evacuation.
On Chizumulu Island, we have the Same Teacher Development Centre for shelter. “There is some support from Dodma, but it has yet to reach us. We expect to receive a consignment of maize, beans, plastic seats and utensils. We understand it will arrive in Nkhata Bay today [Tuesday] and we have already hired boats.”
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