APM assures Salima flood victims of more support
President Peter Mutharika has assured flood victims in Salima that government will support them to bounce back to their normal lives.
Mutharika said this yesterday afternoon when he visited the victims in Traditional Authority (T/A) Pemba’s area in the district.
In the company of Vice-President Saulos Chilima, Mutharika handed over relief items, including 600 bags of maize, 100 bags of beans, 2000 blankets and 160 plastic rolls and buckets.
Mutharika said: “I should assure you [flood victims] that my government is with you during this traumatising moment. I will do everything possible for you to get the much-needed support. I have brought these items so that you can start life afresh following the floods that washed away your properties.”
The President also said government will automatically put the victims on the list of beneficiaries of the Decent and Affordable Housing Subsidy Programme (Dahsp) which targets needy families across the country.
“Government will construct new houses for you through the Decent and Affordable Housing Subsidy Programme. There is no need to worry because my government is with you during this painful moment,” he stressed.
T/A Pemba’s area was affected by floods when Lifidzi River broke its banks following heavy rains a fortnight ago. The flooding affected 248 households, translating to about 1 030 people in the area. Chilima, who is also Disaster Management Affairs Minister, immediately visited the area.
T/A Pemba took advantage of the President’s visit to ask the government to construct bridges across Lifidzi and Linthipe rivers in the area.
He also asked the government to construct a community day secondary school, as the area does not have any secondary school.
“As a chief, I am very thankful for the relief items that you have brought. However, youths in my area face challenges in their education because we have no bridges across Lifidzi River for them to cross to and from school. We also don’t have any secondary school here. Please consider us on these challenges,” Pemba said.
