Floods displace 97 households

Flash floods have displaced bout 97 households in Sub-Traditional Authority Chimwala in Mchinji following incessant heavy rains on Tuesday.

The affected people are currently seeking shelter at one of the churches while some have camped at Balitse Primary School in the area.

In an interview, Chimwala Area Development Committee chairperson Vincent Yohane said the area has been receiving heavy rains since Saturday.

He said the victims are in urgent need of support such as shelter, food and non-food items such as kitchen utensils, blankets and clothes.

“The affected households are from the five villages of Jekemu, Kumkwala, Tseketse, Mandowa and Kapazira,” said Yohane.

On his part, group village head Jekemu expressed fear that the situation may result in an outbreak of waterborne diseases such cholera as toilets have been damaged.

“People have nowhere to go to answer the call of nature. We appeal for interventions quickly,” he said.

In a separate interview, Mchinji district relief and rehabilitation officer Violet Jimu said the area experienced flash floods due to waterlogging.

“The situation was also worsened by poor drainage system,” she said.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) donated relief items to the survivors through Mchinji District Council.

The items included 100 bags of rice, blankets, plastic basins, plates and soap.

One of the beneficiaries, Harry Nkhoma, commended Dodma for the donation.