Chakwera to update House, ex-presidents on cyclone
After spending five days in the Southern Region visiting victims of Cyclone Freddy, President Lazarus Chakwera will tomorrow appear in Parliament to give a report on the government’s assessment of the situation and way forward.
Both Leader of the House Richard Chimwendo Banda and State House press secretary Anthony Kasunda confirmed the development yesterday.
Chakwera, who returned home last Tuesday from South Africa where he stopped enroute from Doha, Qatar where he chaired the Fifth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries, visited Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Mulanje, Zomba, Machinga and Mangochi districts.
Kasunda said Chakwera returned to Lilongwe on Sunday, adding that his daily Disaster Response Update was done at Kamuzu Palace.
He said: “The President is now in Lilongwe following his return on Sunday. He had to return to give a report to Parliament.”
On his part, Chimwendo-Banda said Chakwera is expected to address Parliament tomorrow and respond to issues surrounding the devastating cyclone.
He, however, could not say whether the legislators will be accorded an opportunity to ask questions on the President’s statement.
Asked what he expects from the update, Human Rights Defenders Coalition national chairperson Gift Trapence said Chakwera, among others, should provide a comprehensive cost assessment report on the damage.
He said it is important to have a report that will give a holistic picture on how to rebuild the nation.
Said Trapence: “People have lost property, such as housing, crops and animals and general infrastructure from bridges to health facilities. It is important for the country to have an action plan on how affected families’ livelihoods will be brought back.”
Meanwhile, Chakwera is on Thursday expected to meet former presidents Joyce Banda and Bakili Muluzi to discuss the Cyclone Freddy disaster.
Minister of Information, who is also government spokesperson, Moses Kunkuyu confirmed the meeting yesterday.
He said: “I can confirm that the President is indeed scheduled to meet the former heads of State this Thursday.
“The President has said countless times that the country must unite in our response to this calamity.
“He is meeting the former heads of State as collaborators in the immediate response and rebuilding process that will follow. Details of the agenda will be shared in due course,”
In separate interviews, both Banda and Muluzi confirmed that they will attend the meeting.
Last Sunday, Chakwera declared a State of Disaster in the Southern Region following the devastating effects of the storm which has killed 476 people, effectively appealing for local and international support for the affected families.
