Rainstorms on Thursday destroyed school blocks and houses in Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba District.
Speaking in an interview on Saturday, Mzimba North Education Division regional manager Jennings Matalabanda Kayira said the rainstorms affected Chimbongondo, Luvwere, Sazu and Baula community day secondary schools as well as Baula and Chimbongondo primary schools.
“The situation is bad in the affected schools because the rainstorms blew off roofs of classrooms. The learning environment has been disrupted,” he said.
Baula Primary School headmaster George Thera said the rainstorms affected two classroom blocks, two teachers’ houses, stores and a hostel for Standard Eight girls.
He said: “Classes have been suspended as the school has no habitable place for lessons.
“As we speak Standard Eight learners who were on boarding at the school have been sent home and the school block which was being used by the Malawi Electoral Commission for voter registration has also been affected, leaving documents and property damaged.”
Besides affecting school infrastructure, the rainstorms also affected communities at group village head Mateyo Chitaya where about 22 houses were destroyed.
The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services two months ago said the Northern Region was expected to receive above-average rainfall in November, with a high likelihood of storms occurring in isolated areas.
