Torrential downpours on Friday night destroyed 25 houses in seven villages and left many people homeless in Traditional Authority Mwabulambya in Chitipa District. According to Catholic priest Father Aubrey Sumbukeni from Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, said the rains also affected the parish’s storeroom which housed building materials for a school block project at St. Charles Primary School.
“We have lost all cement meant for the construction of an additional school block at St. Charles Primary School, mattresses and maize,” he said. In an interview, group village head Mwakabanga said apart from destroying houses and property, the heavy rains also swept away maize and tobacco crops.
“We appeal for building materials for temporary shelters while we await the rainy season to end to construct permanent structures. We also ask for seeds to replant,” he said. The chief also asked well-wishers for food items such as flour and maize.
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In a separate interview on Sunday, Chitipa District Council spokesperson Aliko Munde said the impact assessment report from the council’s Department of Disaster Risk Management indicates that some houses had their roofs blown off while others partially collapsed. He said: “Again, maize, soya beans and beans fields were also swept away. At least 638 iron sheets, 89 bags of maize, 11 bags of fertiliser and 70 bags of cement were among the damaged items.
“The affected households need support ranging from food, shelter and farm inputs to lessen their suffering.” Munde said a 78-year-old woman was injured when a wall of her house collapsed on her. Two weeks ago, heavy rains also washed away at least 12 hectares of crops in T/As Mwenewenya and Kameme in the district, according to Chitipa district acting disaster risk management officer Roy Pangani. He also said the heavy rains destroyed 60 houses in the two areas.
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