Flood survivors get relief food, items

The Holy Dwelling Place Baptist Church has donated maize and other assorted items to 81 households affected by floods in Salima.

Speaking on Saturday during the event, group village head Kalonga said 51 households have been displaced in the area.

He said: “The people have sought refuge at the Traditional Authority’s [T/A] new house and Ntchentche Primary School.

“The survivors are in need of food, toilets, bathrooms and materials for building new homes.”

The chief said a similar disaster happened in 1981, but blamed the current floods on people who have constructed houses along streams.

Pastor Booker Kapalamula Banda of the Holy Dwelling Place Baptist Church said theyreceived the resources from Well Church-Laughbrough and All Nations Church-Bedford from the United Kingdom.

“When we heard about the disaster, we decided to help with the little that we had,” he said.

One of the beneficiaries, Zigele Kalesi said she lost everything to the floods.

“My house collapsed at midnight, as such, I did not have the chance to save anything,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Mainesi Kalongonda said she needed resources to rebuild her house.

“Life is tough without a home because my children cannot concentrate on their education,” she said.

The donation followed heavy rains last month which destroyed homes and property in T/As Khombedza, Maganga, Pemba, Kuluunda, Kambwiri and Kalonga in the district, affecting over 3 699 households.

The heavy rains also cut off the Salima-Nkhotakota Road near SiyaSiya in T/A Khombedza in the district.

In December, rainstorms destroyed homes and property in T/As Maganga, Kalonga, Pemba and Kambwiri in the district, affecting about 1 167 households.