Heavy winds displace 580 in Chikwawa

To the people of Chikwawa District, the winds first came as a relief from the scorching heat that characterises the district.

But as time passed, the winds grew stronger and destructive, eventually injuring five people and displacing 580 others from 110 households.

Walking in group village heads (GVH) Kabudula and Chikhambi areas, where the disasters occurred—about four and six kilometres from the boma—one could see depressed faces of affected villagers. The two villages  fall under traditional authorities (T/A) Katunga and Kasisi.

There is silence in the two villages, save for some singing from birds.

Fidelis Sunday, 41, says he still does not understand how he came out of his house that fateful Monday afternoon.

“I stood under a tree. I do not know what I was doing or how I got there. That is how I got saved. I am still living in the same house as I have nowhere else to go,” he said with tears rolling down his cheeks.

When we visited the affected families on Wednesday last week, most of them could not narrate the events without shedding a tear.

Fanny Chapotoka from GVH Kabudula says the roof of her house is now gone.

She said: “It was in the afternoon of Monday. I had just had lunch and it got windy. Suddenly, the winds grew stronger and I heard some people shouting and when I went out, I saw the destruction that happened to other houses and in a few minutes, the roof of my house was also gone.”

Another victim of the disaster from GVH Chikhambi, 30-year-old Ruth Mazinga, said her family has been left hopeless as they have no money to buy new iron sheets for roofing, fearing the rainy season will affect them badly.

According to the victims, the winds lasted about half an hour before the rains started pouring down.

GVHs Kabudula and Chikhambi have since appealed for relief assistance for the affected families, fearing any delays, combined with the rains, will further escalate their problems.

On his part, Chikwawa District Commissioner Lusizi Nhlane said the council has so far been relying on well-wishers to assist them with needs for the affected families.

He said: “We got a report on the disaster and there are some things that are needed urgently by those affected. For example, there is need for plastic sheets for roofing. As a council, we only have blankets so we appeal for help from well-wishers.”

According to Nhlane, the affected people also need food as the winds also damaged part of their harvest.

But Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) chief relief and rehabilitation officer Fyawupi Mwafongo said relief items will be dispatched to the affected families today.

“We plan to dispatch relief assistance on Monday [today]. Our package usually comprises food and non-food items such as plastic sheets for roofing, food and kitchen utensils and blankets.”

Out of 110 affected houses, 63 are from T/A Katunga’s area while the remaining 43 are from T/A Kasisi.

In September this year, the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services warned that this year’s rainy season might cause disasters such as flooding.

In January this year, strong winds also damaged 20 dwelling houses and one classroom block in Salima District in  T/A Kambwiri and Ndindi.

Later in April, strong winds and heavy rains also left 6 500 people destitute and affected 1 266 households. n