Chakwera visists Lilongwe flood victims: Donates food

Opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera on Saturday visited the flood hit families in Lilongwe and gave them food and money.

Chakwera gave them 50 bags of maize and K350000 cash, the first relief food and money from a high ranking official outside the government.

He said the Malawi Congress Party, the party he leads, sympathised with them.

Mayor of the City of Lilongwe Desmond Bikoko also assured the victims that the city council would continue assisting tthem.

State Vice president Saulos Chilima visited the area, Ntandire, on Friday and had an aerial view of the damage from a helicopter.

In an interview with the media, Chilima said the government will not use force to relocate people to upland in the Lower Shire which is prone to floods.

“We will continue to encourage them to relocate to safe areas in upland on their own,” he said.

He said people should avoid building houses in water logged areas.

A military helicopter on Friday whisked away 16 people, including school children, to safety in Mtandire.

Government officials say the rains have killed 18 people and affected 14000 people since the onset of the rains.