Scale of Karonga disaster shocks VP
Malawi Vice-President Khumbo Kachali on Saturday said he was shaken and saddened with the scale of disaster that has struck Kaporo area in Karonga, appealing for more well-wishers to quickly join in assisting the affected people.
Kachali, who is Minister responsible for Disaster Management, said this after visiting Mwenitete Village, Pusi Trading Centre and Kaporo Trading Centre in traditional authorities (T/As) Kyungu and Kilipula where 4 075 families have been affected by flush floods that occurred on March 26 2013.
During the VP’s visit, some police officers’ houses were seen submerged to a window level, rendering the officers and their families homeless. Some of the displaced families have sought refugee in police cells.
Kachali told a gathering at Kibwe Primary School ground later that in other areas such as Chikhwawa companies such as Illovo Sugar (Malawi) Limited have helped victims before government intervention.
“Eland Coal Mine should be commended for helping the needy. I ask the same spirit should be in the private sector and non-governmental organisations operating in Karonga to come to assist the people,” he said.
The flood waters so far have swept maize and rice fields, destroyed household properties including killing six cows, hundreds of chickens and causing many houses to collapse and completely damaged Mzinga Community Day Secondary School which had just been rehabilitated.
