After the flood notice from the ministry of Water and Sanitation on 28 December 2023, Neno district council and Beyond Our Hearts Foundation (BOHF) Malawi has conducted community sensitisation in hot spots as a way of sensitizing the people of the impending danger.

Neno was listed in the floods alert and the areas to be affected included Mkundika, Ngwenyama, Kasamba, Limani, Yera, Bwanali, Chilalazi, Mwimbi, Masiya, Kachingwe, Mapundi, Mzala, Nesani, Mathotho, Nferema, Yoyola, Manondo, Lembani in T/A Symon.

 

Lisungwi river in lower Neno was said to experience some floods.

 

In upper Neno, Kamoto, Matandani, Nkhwewa, William, Chiomba and kankhwani near Mkulumadzi river in T/A Chekucheku were also put in the risk bracket.

 

According to Neno District Council Risk and Rehabilitation officer Brighton Mphinga, the exercise was organised after noticing that most people do not have other media of communication such as radios, TVs and whatsapp phones to get updates.

 

The council conveyed this message through Community structures like  District Disaster Risk Management Committee (DDRMC), Area Disaster Risk Management Committee (ADRMC) and Village Disaster Risk Management Committee (VRMC).

 

In addition, the media was used such as Neno FM, a community radio station, which is playing jingles and special programs on the flood alert.

 

Mphinga further said that "the council has assigned committee members along Mkulumadzi and Lisungwi rivers to monitor the water levels and report to relevant authorities".

 

In view of this, Beyond Our Hearts Foundation Executive Director Russell Msiska said that he was happy to support the flood awareness meetings because it is cheaper to prevent the disasters before they occur.

 

In her remarks, Neno District Commissioner Rosemary Nawasha expressed gratitude and applauded both BOHF and Save the Children-Malawi for supporting the council with the important exercise.

 

" I am ware of the importance of reaching out to people with such messages since some people don't have Radios, TV and WhatsApp to get the information regarding disasters hence  the idea of community awareness using the mobile van was very timely and ideal," said the DC.

 

A couple of houses on Friday were damaged by heavy rains accompanied by strong winds.

 

Currently a team of assessors from the council are on the ground to establish the extent of the damage.