Malawi Pres JB visits Zomba flood victims: Donates relief items, cash
President Dr. Joyce Banda has said her government will ensure that people affected by floods in Zomba and other districts are well looked after until their livelihood normalizes.
She was speaking after she visited flood affected households at St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Traditional Authority Mwambo in the district on Friday, February 15, 2013.
Some 200 households have been affected by floods in the area after a perpetual heavy downpour that had started on February 3, 2013 forcing banks of the Likangala River that runs through the area to burst.
Speaking to the victims, the President said that it was sad that while the nation desperately wanted the rains for agricultural production, they have fallen excessively in some districts, displacing hundreds of households due to heavy flooding.
“I want to assure you and all other victims elsewhere that government through the Department of Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Rehabilitation, will ensure that we mitigate the suffering you are going through. My coming here, personally, is a true manifestation of that commitment,” said the President.
Banda said she is always perplexed when some people accuse her of “wasting time” to visit the poor and the hungry and donating food and other items. She said these people claim that there is no hunger when in fact the situation on the ground is a desperate one.
“As a leader, I will she will not listen to people “that are drinking tea in the comfort of their city homes,” but will instead visit the suffering and assist them in any manner she can.
The President donated 1600 bags of maize, flour, blankets, pails and other food and relief items. Dr. Banda also donated MK1 million to assist the victims buy some necessities.
A representative of the victims, Joseph Namalenga, thanked President Banda for the “kind and timely gesture”. She appealed to other well-wishers to emulate the example the Head of State had displayed.
