Heavy and stormy rains Wednesday afternoon destroyed scores of houses in Zidana Village in the area of Senior Chief Kwataine in Ntcheu leaving over 200 families homeless.
According to Village Head Zidana, the storm which did not last long hit the village around 2p.m.
“It all started with light rains and within a short time we heard a strange sound of something like whirlwind and this is the wind which has devastated my village and surrounding schools and villages,” said Zidana.
The village head said 90 per cent of his subjects were affected by the storm.
“As you can see most of the affected houses were roofed by iron sheets and it is doubtful if the affected families will have resources to bring back their houses to their original status. Therefore, there is immediate need for assistance from government and various stakeholders,” he said.
Speaking in an interview after visiting the affected village, Ntcheu District Commissioner, Harry Phiri described the situation as pathetic and called on organizations and government to intervene.
“Regardless that no deaths were reported but some people sustained minor injuries and were treated as out- patients at Nsipe Health Centre. This scenario is one of the worst disasters to have been experienced in the district,” Phiri said.
He attributed the disaster to wanton cutting down of trees and advised all village heads to encourage their subjects to be planting trees which can in future block storms from destroying houses.
“I can confirm that most of the areas in the district have been affected by these stormy rains, the current number of the affected households is over 200, however these figures are expected to rise as assessment continues in the other affected areas,” he said.
However, the district commissioner was quick to thank government for responding to the situation by providing the families with plastic sheets, maize for food and other items such as buckets and cups.
“The Deputy Minister of Defence, Malisoni Ndau presented the relief items as a starting point but we need more assistance to ensure that lives of the affected people are normalized within the shortest period,” he said.mana
