Chilima vindicated on dangers of substandard dykes

Vice President Saulos Chilima, who is UTM presidential candidate, has been vindicated for criticising construction of a substandard dyke along the Shire Basin in Nsanje which failed to protect lives and property during the floods which killed 56.

An aerial view of flood affected areas.

The UTM presidential candidate reprimanded RBL Engineers in February 2018 for constructing a substandard dyke at a whooping K290 million.

Chilima called it a death trap and recommended that it should be reconstructed immediately.

However, Chilima’s words fell on deaf ears until the floods proved him right and destroyed the dyke, killed people, destroyed crops, property and road networks.

In Zomba Matiya, floods also destroyed another substandard dyke built with MASAF 4 funds along Phalombe River  by the villagers displacing thousands from Makina Village.

The floods affected close to a million people in 14 districts in Malawi.

Currently about 187 camps have been set up to shelter those displaced by floods.

The government declared Malawi state of disaster and asked for humanitarian aid to assist the affected.

Currently there is high demand for relief food in these camps as people have lost everything during the floods.

Red Cross, Save the Children, UN, MRA,  Lafarge are among entities that have assisted the affected.

South Africa and Tanzania are among foreign governments that have assisted.

Chilima has no nonsense stand when it comes to adhering to high standards of performance.

He does not tolerate laziness.

Chilima also observed that settlements in Soche Hill, Blantyre, were illegal and death traps and ordered they should be demolished and the people relocated.

Blantyre City Council (BCC) agreed with Chilima saying they already ordered the people to relocate.

But BCC is failing to act on instruction from DPP which fears it will lose votes.

BCC officials were told to delay action until elections were over placing the lives of people in danger.

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Chimphanza
Chimphanza
4 years ago

Timakuuzani ife kuti Chilima is the only hope for Malawi. Ine nde vote yanga duuu kudimira kumpatsa Chilima basi.

Yasser Arafat Hamdani
Yasser Arafat Hamdani
4 years ago

The author of this article is very stupid. He thinks that floods that occurred everywhere in Malawi, all the people that were killed and property that was destroyed is because of one substandard dyke that Arafat, his paymaster saw. Stop politicizing the national disaster.

Zobanduka
4 years ago

Tawerengani zomwe amayankhula a Mchacha ku Nyambadwe if you want to hear Politicizing Disaster! Kkkkkkk

Yasser Arafat Hamdani
Yasser Arafat Hamdani
4 years ago
Reply to  Zobanduka

Zoti Chakwera wakwera joisi?

Hassan nkhata
Hassan nkhata
4 years ago

Woow! What a shame to boot lickers who were busy faulting chilima now that the president has acknowledged Skc advice.Some one silly has been busy saying Japan floods blah blah despite dykes blah blah yet your president is promising to construct new dykes

Makha
Makha
4 years ago

If dykes were not important why is the president saying we should build more dykes?

Sikusinja
Sikusinja
4 years ago

A dyke cud not have helped in anyway. Let’s be realistic. That’s why people in Mozambique were on rooftops. The dyke you are talking about could have been underwater as well. The devastation is from downpour and not overflooding of a river.

Heavyduty
Heavyduty
4 years ago

My friend, in Japan giant waves triggered by tsunami destroyed a well constructed dyke that were protecting nuclear reactors. Are you telling us that you will stop natural disasters. What about in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, is the devastation there due to poor dykes? Bwanji ukulakhula ngati wamwa nkalabongo

Titani Kamphandira
Titani Kamphandira
4 years ago
Reply to  Heavyduty

prevention is not a cure but reduces the risks so thats what chilima was talking about if we build properly we will reduce the number of victims if it works we might even save people

Truth Pains
4 years ago

Wakusina khutu ndi natsi, you were told by Chilima to rebuild the dyke but arrogance of the contractors and their connection with DPP top brass made them to disregard Chilima’s advise and save lives of people then here we are now , people loosing life due to your selfishness .

Avoid corruption when doing the work which is mandated to save people’s lives.

Yasser Arafat Hamdani
Yasser Arafat Hamdani
4 years ago
Reply to  Truth Pains

Arafat Hamdani-Chilima is not a holy saint. He only exposed the corruption on the dyke based on his insider’s knowledge. He is part of the system.

Wandu
Wandu
4 years ago

It’s not the dyke, STUPID. This year’s rain and storms have been very devastating.

Heavyduty
Heavyduty
4 years ago
Reply to  Wandu

Actually floods devastated many districts including Mulanje, Zomba, Mangochi, Mwanza and beyond the borders of Malawi. Do you think dykes are unlimited in the protection they provides. Let me tell you Chilima, natural disasters can damage anything regardless of how good it is constructed. A dyke would not withstand that 4 or 5 day continuous rain. I think this boy is mentally unstable. You are mentally challenged with low IQ.

Chilungamo
Chilungamo
4 years ago
Reply to  Heavyduty

@heavy
The problem is you DON’T THINK!
The issue is, even in situations of extreme natural disasters if what wasl CONSTRUCTED was indeed ‘HEAVY DUTY’ structure it usually withstands the forces of nature thereby minimising damage or indeed loss of lives. That’s some strong structure become temporary shelters disaster management centre points.
But with FAKE DPP infrastructures ndi izi mvula isavumbe, zingokokoloka ngati nyumba yozira.

Leo
Leo
4 years ago
Reply to  Wandu

Really?…. I bet to differ. It wasnt as devastating as in Mozambique and Zimbabwe…. If the dykes were properly constructed the victim number woudnt be as high as it is

Aphiri
Aphiri
4 years ago

Chilima is our only hope here . We are moving backwards to say the truth

Njolo mpilu
Njolo mpilu
4 years ago

kupezerapo cifukwa. Ma floods anayamba litilo daft pipo.
Mafumu a mbwiyomu.
Mia , gwanda ndikaesa anali konko. Cilima wabwera litilo.
Pezani ina. Mmene paberedwa money ndi flood aid mu.
Cement ,malata subsidy plus cikangawa matabwa JB amakagulitsa ku zambia aja ndi mmwenye wake uja pano zitathandiza anthu a ku lowershire kumangako manyumba olimbako. Than kumanga ma presidential villas ku 43.
Ci bwato ca pitala cija agula ndi ndalama zathusi.musiyeni cilima

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