The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) has maintained its August 31, 2023 deadline for councils to complete the relocation process of tropical cyclone Freddy survivors.

DODMA commissioner, Charles Kalemba says, so far, district councils namely; Mulanje, Phalombe, Chiradzulu, Mangoch, Blantyre city and partly Nsanje have already identified land and some have started relocating the survivors.
According to Kalemba, DODMA only supports councils where they need assistance.

“DoDMA also facilitates provision of certain amenities. For example, in Nsanje, Makhanga area, DoDMA has disbursed funds to the district council to drill boreholes.

“We are targeting the places where people are supposed to be relocated to or have already started being relocated to.

He further said: “We have been meeting councils and given ourselves August end. We must make sure we have identified land and either complete the relocation or start the survivors' relocation.”

Nsanje district council spokesperson, Robert Nayeja confirmed receipt of the funds on Thursday, saying efforts are in place to meet the set deadline.

“We have received K15 million towards the sinking of boreholes for those seeking relocation.

“We are working with community leaders to identify land where we can relocate the survivors, but also conduct assessments to ascertain if the land is appropriate for relocation,” explained Nayeja.

According to Nayeja, the findings of the assessments are submitted to DoDMA for payment of compensation.

Records indicate that cyclone Freddy, which hit the country early this year, claimed over 1000 lives and more than half a million were displaced.  

Recently, Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Regional Coordinator for the South, Victor Khwima, dared authorities to speed up the relocation process so the survivors can rebuild their lives.