Government has called for concerted support from stakeholders in relocation of people living in disaster prone places to safer areas.
Deputy Minister of Local government, Unity and Culture Owen Chomanika made the call in Lilongwe on Monday during a press briefing in commemoration of the 2023 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day.
Chomanika said after the devastating impacts of Cyclone Freddy, Soche Hill and mountain slopes and river banks are not suitable for human settlement hence the need for all the settlements that are in the disaster prone areas to be relocated to safer areas.
He added that this will improve their living conditions and reduce their vulnerability in the event of a disaster of a similar nature and magnitude.
“Malawi will commemorate 2023 World Habitat Day and World Cities Day with activities to facilitate the relocation of households who were affected by impacts of Cyclone Freddy. This is because we cannot talk about resilient urban economies without resilient human settlements.
“Government alone cannot support the affected families to relocate from Soche Hill to Mapanga in Blantyre where the Ministry of Lands has allocated 300 hectares for the relocation. I appeal for support from stakeholders as we expect to finish all the necessary requirements for relocation by 20 October,” He said.
He hailed Press Corporation, National Bank of Malawi, Malawi Red Cross Society, FDH Bank and Gift of Givers who have provided resources for the construction of 59 houses for the Cyclone Freddy affected households in Traditional Authority (TA) Likoswe in Chiradzulu district.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture, in collaboration with the National Habitat Committee and Blantyre City Council have planned to host a Malawi Urban Forum to facilitate the relocation of the households before the onset of the rainy season.
Director for Urban Development in the Ministry of Local Government, Mercy Dube said government has already started raising awareness on the importance of complying with land use plans when carrying out development activities so that people living in disaster prone areas throughout the country can appreciate the need to relocate to safer places.
Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) Commissioner, Charles Kalemba said the department will use necessary force to people who are not compliant in the relocation exercise.
Reported by Sarah Munthali
