Flood victims graduate to modern houses 

The floods that rendered several people homeless in 15 of the country’s 28 districts in January have turned to be a stepping stone for the victims.

Bilal Trust Relief project is building permanent houses for the victims.

The beneficiaries had their houses swept away by flooding water from Nkondezi and Thuchila rivers near Nkando Trading Centre in Mulanje.

During the flooding, 44 households were affected and the families are living at Chingoli Camp.

“Soon I will occupy my new house roofed with iron sheets. I thank the trust for considering building houses for us. I had a house, but when I lost it, I thought that was the end of me. But Bilal Trust has restored my hope,” said Jamila Mtenjere, one of the beneficiaries.

Several of those affected said their houses were grass-thatched, stressing that the new initiative was a stepping stone in their lives. They said this also marks an end to buying grass every year for thatching their houses.

Bilal Trust Relief has been constructing modern houses for some flood victims that lost their houses to floods in selected areas.

Projects coordinator Zubair Dosani said the initiative is running in Mangochi, Chiradzulu and Mulanje where they are constructing 150 houses with each costing between K400 000 and K500 000 each.

“The project is ongoing. We want to ensure that those in camps in the three districts have a modern house. We are not selective on religion. Everyone who is a victim qualifies for our houses,” said Dosani.

Chief Labana of Mulanje said there is need to think about long-term solutions to the problem, saying constructing permanent houses and sanitation facilities for victims was one of them.