Mutharika cancels Mozambique trip: VP Chilima gives update on Malawi floods
Malawi President Prof Peter Mutharika has cancelled his trip to Mozambique on Thursday for his scheduled appearance at the inauguration of the country’s President elect, Filipe Nyusi, to work on the government’s floods disaster response, the State House said Wednesday.
State House press officer Chikondi Juma said President Mutharika has cancelled his scheduled trip to Maputo, Mozambique which he was expected on Thursday January 15, 2015.
“The President’s decision to cancel the trip is due to the prevailing flood situation in this country,” Juma said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Dr. George Chaponda (MP) who is already in Maputo will represent Mutharika at the inauguration.
Meanwhile, Vice President Saulos Chilima said on Wednesday that government was making progress in its rescue operations and distribution of relief aid to flood victims across the country while paying tribute to selfless gestures from stakeholders, private sector, and donors.
He said the boats had been sent by the Malawi Defence Force and the marine department and that “the military was in full control of the situation.”
Addressing a news conference to update the nation on the disaster situation, Chilima who is also Minister Responsible for Disaster Management Affairs, said about 12 boats were on the ground doing rescue operations in the lower shire.
“We are full throttle on the ground and more and more people are being rescued by the boats manned by the military personnel. It is only air operations that are being hampered with bad weather but the efforts will continue. Relief is assistance is coming and we are grateful to those extending help,” said the vice President.
FDH Bank, Airtel Malawi, Emmanuel TV, Prophet Bushiri, World Vision International were some of those that were responding to the government’s desperate call for assistance.
The Vice President however assured that government’s response was on track with K500 million being set aside for the operations.
Throughout Wednesday evening after meeting the press, the Vice President also met senior government officials on the need to go full scale on the ground and later the same evening Chilima met the donor community.
The coordination and response to the disaster will among others be done through the clusters of Agriculture and Food Security, Health and Nutrition, Early Recovery and Protection and Emergency shelter and camp management.
“Members of the clusters comprise relevant government ministries and departments, UN agencies, cooperating partners and NGOs. The clusters will be responsible for identification of needs within the cluster and ensuring that the needs are addressed,” said Chilima.
Meanwhile a toll free number 115 has been activated where people can call from all local networks and report any emerging disasters or where relief assistance is critically need.
Apart from the toll number, officials from the department of disaster will also be taking calls at anytime on the following numbers 0991 269 066, 0888 867 015, 0999 937 952, 0999 205 939, 0888 872 314.
The Vice President also called for financial contributions to be made through ‘Office of the Vice President – Disaster Management” account numbers 9700000100514 and 9700000105257 at FDH Bank, Capital City.
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mwayesesa bwana mtima umenewo musausiye alekeni onena za misalawo azinena
Bvuto lake munabadwa enanu ndi mtima oweruza.Mukamaliza kuweruzako mwini wake Chauta azaweruzanji?Bwanji zionetsero sizinasinthidwe ndi mtima oti mdziko momwe muno ena akhuzidwa ndi ngozi ya madzi?m’tsogoleri walephera kuphwando mukubweka,khalani chete sitisowa kumva nyansi zanuzo.Mtima wabwino bwana president,ndakondwa kwambiri.May the Lord be with you all the time and indeed gave you more knowledge cause you are only our leader chosen by Him.
welldone malawi govt, mwayesetsa kumbali yanu, enawa ngachamba, or kuwathansiza iwo amene atukwanabe, amalawi munatan simuyamika
Wozinyanyala, which Malawians are you calling to wake up? In all fairness, it is you who is in deep slumber. It’s pitiful you can’t see the development taking place around you. You need to wake up and sober up please. It is regrettable that right months down the line, you are still struggling to accept that Malawians elected Professor Peter Arthur Mutharika (APM) as the president of the Republic of Malawi. I humbly offer my good advice to you and those who think like you to please do yourself a good service and accept APM as your president. You may… Read more »
Why not jst obtain Court Injunction what sins have they committed to send them packing . Where are they going to find good houses with this national disaster at hand ?
Kalyokyo that’s restructuring akuti akuthana ndi PP I wonder if there were any of them in this institution.
Wounded tell us the which department is at OPC ? I suppose it is NIB because its good at that. Thanks redeployment am a free minded person and Civil Service mainstream ndi nyatwa mumangonamizana kumeneko.
I Samson and My friend we”ve created the page in facebook and group in whatsapp. To get donate around Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and whole around south africa country. We will open Account which people around SA. Who are willing to donate will deposit whatever their can manage. Then when we reach the amount of money that we can atleast send will send to those accounts that been mentions of Disaster managiment. We just pray and believe that people won’t take this negativelly. Our facebook page is [Donate Malawi Floods] email @ [email protected]) whatsapp, text or call. @ +2710033919 Samson/+27784330531… Read more »
If what Wounded has said is true that’s being inhumane. Mr. Chilima, Incharge of Civil Service , some members of staff are suffering in silence.
It was like Joyce Banda saw this coming in her vision. She bought boats for Malawi Defence Force and here we are using them and saving souls. Thanks very much mai Banda