Malawi launches National Disaster Recovery Framework: Veep takes a dig at councils’ laxity
Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima on Friday told district, town and city councils in the country to start making lasting decisions that will help reduce some natural disasters that occur because of the councils’ laissez-faire attitude.
The vice president said there are a number of natural disasters that keep on occurring every year because local government authorities fail to stamp their authority and implement policies that are already in place.
Chilima was speaking in Mzuzu during the commemoration of this year’s International Disaster Reduction Day at Katoto Secondary School Ground.
The ceremony also saw the country launching the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) and National Disaster Risk Management Training Manual.
“As a nation, we have faced a number of natural disasters for some time where a lot of lives and property worth millions have been lost.
“However, it is sad to note that some of these natural disasters occurred because some of the policy holders failed to do what they are mandated to do,” Chilima said.
He added that the nation cannot keep on having the same natural disasters every year and that councils must do what the policies mandate them to do.
“This laxity must stop once and for all,” the vice president said.
Chilima then said government is currently doing everything possible to ensure that the country has disaster mitigation and recovery frameworks.
“We have put in place a number of policies like the National Disaster Resilient Strategy that are aimed at reducing incidents of natural disasters as well as helping victims of disasters,” he said.
He advised all local government authorities and utility bodies like Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) and water boards to avoid providing their services in disaster prone areas.
United Nations Resident Representative to Malawi Florence Rolle said the country needs to invest a lot in disaster reduction and resilience building strategies for the nation to avoid losing resources through natural disasters.
“For instance, for every K1 spent in avoiding natural disasters, the country saves up to K7 which could have been spent if disasters strike,” said Rolle.
This year’s theme for the day was “Home safe home, reducing exposure, and displacement.”
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Kikkkkk Mr vice President hahahahahaha inu munangoona kukhala wandale and to that D.P.P party, eish nanga muzingokhala Vice P wongowona zamavuto agwa mwadzidzi zokhazi basi? Mr Vice President there are a lot of things you can do better than this unfortunately this Lhomwe team will using you and use you and use you and dump you , zovutatu izi.