Chewa Heritage Foundation (CHEF), a cultural and charitable grouping has responded to support calls to hailstorms and floods victims in Salima North-West constituency by donating various food items worth MK1 million courtesy of Nu-Skin Force for Good Foundation based in the USA .
The response comes barely a month after Member of Parliament for the area, Dr Jessei Kabwira made an appeal for an urgent help towards over 55 families who were affected by hailstorms and floods which hit GVH Mwadyakale in Traditional Authority (T.A) Nkhombedza on February 27.
This is CHEF’s third response to floods victims after it made a similar donation in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts with food items including bags of maize, beans, salt and usipa (bonya).
Speaking after donating, Chairperson of CHEP, Professor Kanyama Phiri said the little given to the victims might ease their pain for some time saying providing them with farm inputs for irrigation farming was an ideal.
“This is the third time support towards the course of easing foods victims’ pain. This, however, might not be sustainable but providing them with farm inputs for irrigation farming which will help them to have food in the dry season. We are hoping to sources other funds for such a course because doing so will be the best way of helping them”, said Professor Phiri .
After receiving the items, Violet Govati, one of the affected families said the items would ease the burden the hailstorms and floods caused as she might have something to eat for few days.
“We are very grateful for the assistance brought by CHEF after our Member of Parliament made an appeal. It’s important to have such kind of leaders in our communities who come quickly for support when their people are in trouble. Items will ease a little bit for sometime as you the problems are many. Therefore, we still appeal to other well-wishers to come to rescue us as our Member of Parliament she can’t do it alone”, urges Kaminjoro.
In her remarks, Dr Jessie Kambira the Parliamentarian for the area applauded CHEF for the timely response with donations saying such handy spirit was fundamental principals in Easter season among Christians across Malawi and beyond.
“Honestly, this is timely as one person can’t manage to ease the suffering of our people as the challenge is huge. These are true friends who show up themselves in times of trouble. However, I am still appealing for more support especially on farm inputs for irrigation farming as many families don’t have food now due also dry spell which hit the area”, appeals Dr Kabwira.
Chewa Heritage Foundation (CHEP) was established early 2006 with aim of preserving customs, values and traditions of chewa people across the nation with over137 chiefs under its operation.
