Floods cause extensive damage to roads
Floods resulting from a heavy downpour have killed three people and damaged crops and infrastructure, including major roads in various districts nationwide.
The affected areas include Mangochi, Ntcheu, Chikwawa and Nsanje districts where people have lost houses, crops, livestock and other properties.
Roads Authority (RA) yesterday confirmed having information that the rains have damaged Mangochi-Monkey Bay Road, Golomoti-Monkey Bay Road, the M5 cut-off at Pengapenga in Ntcheu and Chapananga Road in Chikwawa.

RA chief executive officer Ammiel Champiti said they are assessing the extent of damage on the roads so that they should work on the affected ones within the week.
He said: “The repair works will be conducted to ensure that there is no continued disconnection between the affected places.”
In Mangochi, the floods have killed three people, injured 48 and displaced 1 156 households in traditional authorities (T/A) Mapira Chimwala and Mponda.
Speaking in an interview, Mangochi District Council spokesperson Bishop Witmos said the affected households are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance as they have lost their houses, crops, livestock and other properties.
“The situation is bad and terrible. The council has established the shelters just to give the affected people refuge while we are thinking of ways of supporting them,” he said.
Flood survivor Agnes Mbewe, 47, from T/A Chimwala in Mangochi, said she managed to escape with her children when their house collapsed.
Meanwhile, Mangochi Nkungulu legislator Aisha Mambo Adams (United Democratic Front) has called for immediate intervention from the government and humanitarian organisations.
“This is a tragedy, and our people are suffering. We urgently need food, clean water, medical supplies, and proper sanitation in these camps. I am engaging authorities to ensure that relief items reach the affected families as soon as possible,” implored the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Ntcheu District spokesperson Maston Kaiya said rains have also damaged crops belonging to 1 779 farmers in Chawanje, Mphoola, and Chikadya in the district.
Last week, people in Nsanje complained that they were not accessing services at Mbenje Health Centre after floods affected the health facility.
Department of Disaster Management Affairs data shows that as of January 21 2025, severe weather characterised by heavy rains had cumulatively killed 31 people, injured 382 and affected 31 413 others since the start of the 2024/25 rainfall season.