Cyclone survivors get clean cooking

Persons displaced by Cyclone Freddy, now taking shelter at Mzongoza Evacuation Camp in Chikwawa, have waved bye to smoky fireplaces, thanks to gas stoves donated by Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera).

The open fires worsened the agony of women and children, who endured long walks to fetch firewood and inhaled polluted air when cooking meals.

The K9.5 million donation from the energy regulator also included foodstuffs and kitchen utensils.

Eurita Matabishu says firewood became has “a big problem” around the camp, where many used twigs and crop residues for cooking.

“We used to pick sticks and grass from homes whose fences fell down due to the cyclone, annoying the owners who would chase us like children,” she says.

Mutabishu has never used gas or electricity for cooking, just like more than than nine in 10 households in the country that cook using firewood and charcoal.

She has mastered safe use of gas cookers following a demonstration by Mera. The displaced community watched delightedly as she assembled the gas cooking equipment to practise what they learnt during the public show.

She was among the locals who cooked dried fish, called makakana, to the amazement of nearly 3 000 occupants of the camp, located about seven kilometres from Nchalo Trading Centre.

“We are now free people. We can cook fast and without fear of inhaling deadly fumes,” she said.

Chikwawa District Council principal administrative officer Allan Kazembe said the introduction of gas cookers in crowded camps will save the displaced from indoor air population and popularise clean cooking technology that limit the loss of trees.

Chikwawa remains with 30 of the 52 camps that housed people displaced by Cyclone Freddy. Others have been decommissioned to pave the way for the reopening of school and rebuilding.

Mera spokesperson Fitina Khonje said two camps in the district will benefit from the clean cooking facility.

The energy regulator has engaged a service provider in the district to refill the 12 gas cylinders every time they run dry.

Soon after the cyclone struck in March, Mera donated K50 million in aid of affected communities.

Each camp has received two gas stoves of two cooking spots and three plates each.

“Gas cooks quickly and conveniently. It saves the time and energy used to fetch firewood,” said Khonje.

Gas cookers are part of the country’s weaponry to combat deforestation fuelled by overdependence on charcoal and firewood.

Malawi loses 250 000 hectares of forested area every year, representing an annual loss of 2.8 percent of its forest cover.