Malawi NGOs lambasted for creating ‘weather focus confusion’

Some non-governmental organizations in the country are spreading unfounded rumours that the Malawi will face heavy rains that will cost several lives and dislocate many a development that is causing people to live in “fear,” government has claimed.

The claim was made recently in Karonga when the Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mines through the department of climate change and metrological services launched a ‘national weather campaign for the 2015-2016 rainy season’ aimed at reducing the disaster that Malawi faced last season.

The department’s head of public weather Elinah Kalulanga said it was “unfortunate” that the NGOs were behaving in the manner without providing alternative solutions.

“We’ve decided to hold meetings with you chiefs because we know that you are the most reliable in the community. What you have to know is that our weather forecast for this rainy season indicates that the country will have heavy incessant rains associated with thunderstorms that will end up in the shortest period of time,” said Kalulanga.

She then asked chiefs in the area to re-allocate their subjects from flood prone areas to upper lands.

Traditional Authority Kilipula, whose area is the most hit by flood in the district, said he will try to “convince his subjects to reallocate to the upper lands” but asked the department to come up with such information in time so that all process of constructing water conservation areas as well as reallocations should not be in panic one.”

Malawi has already started experiencing heavy rains in many parts including Mzimba, Blantyre and some other parts of Lilongwe.

In Blantyre, especially in Limbe, most roads are now impassable because of the rains.

Last year, hundreds of people went missing and lost their lives while thousands were displaced.

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