Tag Archives: Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDma)

Malawi

#Malawi’s Cyclone Freddy: Death toll at 438, displacing 79,602 households

Maravi Post Reporter
Cyclone Freddy claims many lives

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-About 438 people have been killed while displacing 79,602 households due to Tropical Cyclone Freddy that hit hard Malawi’ southern region districts since Friday, March 10, 2023.

This is according to Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA)’s fresh preliminary reports from councils, on damages caused by Tropical Cyclone Freddy (TCF) as of March 17, 2023.

DoDMA says has received rapid assessment reports from 14 affected councils namely; Balaka, Blantyre City, Blantyre District, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Neno, Nsanje, Phalombe, Thyolo, Zomba City and Zomba District.

Reads DoDMA statement, “Cumulatively, TCF-induced flooding, strong winds and mudslides have displaced 79,602, households (approximately 345,183 people) with 505 camps set to accommodate the displaced. The death toll has risen from 326 to 438; with 918 injured and 282 reported missing.

“The department, humanitarian partners and councils continue to facilitate the provision of relief assistance to affected and displaced households, with search and rescue operations led by the Malawi Defence Force (MDF), the Malawi Police Service (MPS), the Department of Marine, the Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) and communities; underway”.

“The MPS has deployed sniffer dogs for search and rescue; and so far, they have recovered nine bodies in Chilobwe, Blantyre District.

“The national interagency assessment team is on the ground to support affected councils with assessments to establish the total number of affected people and their immediate needs,” added the statement.

DoMA reads further, “Following the declaration of state of disaster by President Lazarus Chakwera; foreign missions, governments, local and international organizations, companies and individuals of goodwill are providing various support towards TCF response operations.

“The department will be regularly updating the general public on provision of assistance, usage and any related development”.

Appeals DoDMA, “As earlier indicated by clusters (sector working groups), the affected people require various relief items as shown below.

SHELTER
Tarpaulin (4 x 6 m)
Family tents/big tents
Plastic Sheet
Blankets
Sleeping mats

PROTECTION
Clothes
Lighting lamps
Dignity Kits

HEALTH
Mosquito nets
Mobile clinic services

NON FOOD ITEMS
Plates
Cups
Pots

WASH
Mobile toilets
Water treatment chemicals
Soap
Buckets

FOOD SECURITY
Maize/ Maize Flour
Corn Soya Blend
Cooking Oil
Pulses (beans, peas etc)
Soya Pieces
Dry Fish/ kapenta
Sugar
Salt

For any emergency or assistance, please call our toll free number 115 using either Airtel or TNM lines.

For more information, please contact the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Chipiliro Raymond Khamula, on +265 (0) 999 043 228, (0) 884 572 844 E-mail; info.dodma@dodma.gov.mw.

Malawi, Obituaries

#Malawi’s Cyclone Freddy impact: Death toll at 200

Lloyd M’bwana
Cyclone Freddy impact on Malawi

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-About 200 people have been killed by effects of Cyclone Freddy that has hit the southern region districts since Friday.

Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) Director Responsible for Recovery and Resilience Peter Lackson Chimangeni disclosed that of the 190 deaths, 158 are from Blantyre alone.

Chimangeni says over 584 have been injured, 37 people are missing while over 4000 people have been displaced.

Meanwhile, Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers and some civilians have been deployed in some Southern Region districts to help in search and rescue of victims of the cyclone.

However, Commissioner for disaster preparedness Charles Kalemba described the incident as unfortune.

The boat had six people, and three managed to swim out of the water, according to Kalemba.

Meanwhile, Director of the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Lucy Mtilatila, said Cyclone Freddy had weakened in Malawi.

Malawi, Obituaries

#Malawi’s Cyclone Freddy impact: Death toll at 99 with 10,000 households displaced

Lloyd M’bwana

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-About 99 people have died and 10,000 households been displaced over Tropical Cyclone Freddy that has hit hard Malawi’s southern region since Friday, March 10, 2023.

Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA)’s Commissioner Charles Kalemba told the news conference on Monday evening, March 13 that the death toll in the tropical cyclone Freddy in Blantyre alone, has risen to 85, and 134 serious injuries recorded.

Commissioner Kalemba added that the death toll including in other districts that have been hit in the southern region has risen to 99 deaths.

He however predicted that the number is expected to rise as more bodies are being kept at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.

Currently, different organisations, individuals are on rescue operation while offering shelter to the displayed families.

Meanwhile, Water and and Sanitation Minister Abida Mia walked in the mud on Monday afternoon to appreciate the extent of damage in Chilobwe Township in Blantyre following the impact of Cyclone Freddy.

More to come…..

Environment, Law and order, Malawi

Chakwera’ SONA escapes from disaster bill, carbon levy proceeds

Lloyd M’bwana

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Climate Change and environmental experts have questioned President Lazarus Chakwera’s sincerity regarding to promises made two years on enactment of Disaster Risk Management Bill (DRM) that Friday’s February 17, 2023 State of National Address (SONA) leaves out the bill.

Not only that but also SONA skips carbon levy proceeds on how Chakwera’s Tonse Alliance Government is using resources from the basket.

In SONA, Chakwera only disclosed that his leadership has established the National Climate Change Fund (NCCF) with MK500 million in seed for its operationalization, a development has angered environmental and climate change experts.

In an exclusive interview with Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma observes that Chakwera’s sincerity of promises made on DRM bill by ignoring it in the SONA speaks volume of leadership lip service.

Ng’oma wondered why Chakwera keeps on dodging on the bill while disasters still killing people and damaging properties due to one single approach of waiting disaster to strike then act.

“Two years after promised Malawians to enact DRM bill nothing has happened only giving excuses in draft form. The bill has many strategies and mechanism on how to address disasters than the current approach of waiting the disaster to strike then act.

“SONA omission on this serious issue questions Chakwera’s leadership whether is for people or not as disasters keep on claiming lives, damaging properties as only single approach is used. However, we will continue pushing for enactment of the bill for people’s interests,” assures Ng’oma.

Malawi not doing enough to contain disaster like floods

On Climate Change Fund’s seed money, Ng’oma queried as the funds are too little arguing that carbon levy has enough resources for full support towards climate change adaptation programs in Malawi.

“Carbon levy which was introduced two years ago has over MK2 billion which can be channeled directly to climate change adaptation programs. But funds are into account number One which now we don’t know its usage.

“Now with MK500 million allocated to NCCF as seed money, where is coming from? It is from Carbon levy? If its from Carbon levy then its too little as the whole fund needs enough resources not only operationalization seed money. Let Chakwera leadership come out clear on where does Carbon levy proceeds go,” dares Ng’oma.

In December 2020, during national address Chakwera committed himself that the bill would be tabled in Parliament and passed into law, come January 2021 seating.

Mkoka and Ng’oma (from left)

Two years down the line, nothing on the ground but only dilly-darling on the bill between Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and Ministry of Justice.

The bill seeks to empower DoDMA to have proper funding from national budget not on unforeseen vote.

If enacted, the law will prevent people from staying in prone disasters areas.

Environment, Malawi

“Disaster bill still under review before enactment”-DoDMA

Lloyd M’bwana
disaster

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) on Friday, January 20, 2023 disclosed that the much awaited enactment of Disaster Risk Management Bill (DRM) is still under review before fully Malawi Parliament.

DoDMA Commissioner Charles Kalemba emphasized the need for accommodative law that will be accepted by all Malawians.

Kalemba hinted that there are emerging issues that need to be included before passing it into law.

The commissioner was responding to Maravi Post question as to why the bill failed to see its light in the last seating of Parliament despite assurance.

This is also despite President Lazarus Chakwera promising enactment of the bill two years ago but nothing has happened.

Chakwera caught lying on Disaster bill enactment

“The bill is still under review basing on emerging issues which need to be incorporated before passing it into law. We wont abandon the will.

“Cabinet assured us that the bill is on the list for the coming seating as the last session prioritized on money bills. So, Malawians must be patient enough. We want the law that is accepted by many”, assures Kalemba.

In December 2020, during national address Chakwera committed himself that the bill would be tabled in Parliament and passed into law, come January 2021 seating.

Two years down the line, nothing on the ground but only dilly-darling on the bill between DoDMA and Ministry of Justice.

The development still angering Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) and its partners as to why Chakwera commitment has not been materialized despite finalization of the bill’s paper work through thorough consultations.

Addressing the news conference on Friday evening, December 16, 2022 in the capital Lilongwe CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma expressed worrisome over lack of political will from executive arm of government.

Ng’oma dared Chakwera to fulfil his promises on the bill arguing that two years is a long time considering urgent matter surrounding the bill.

“Was President Chakwera commitment national address on the matter real or political statement? Look, Members of Parliament (MPs) are ready to deliberate and pass the bill into law. But the challenges remains with DoDMA and Executive arm of government.

“We hear that there is no draft bill when all in all we have exhausted our energies for inputs that Malawi should have preparedness law on disaster. If there are gaps in the draft bill, Ministry of Justice could come to us than seating on it while disasters still striking hard, claiming lives,” worried Ng’oma.

The bill seeks to empower DoDMA to have proper funding from national budget not on unforeseen vote.

If enacted, the law will prevent people from staying in prone disasters areas.

Development

DODMA donates to Karonga flood victims

Maravi Post Reporter
Dodma aids food items to Karonga floods survivors

By Lusekero Mhango

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Department of Disaster Management Afairs (DODMA) on Thursday, January 6, 2023 distributed relief items to over 473 households hit by floods in some parts of Karonga District.

The donation which included a 50-kilogram bag of maze, 10 metres of plastic sheets and plates followed heavy rains that fell last week on December 30 which has so far affected over 1000 households at Mweneyumba and Zinde in the area of Traditional Authority, (T.A) Kyungu.

Speaking in an interview Relief and Rehabilitation Officer for Karonga District Council Shepard Jeri, said DODMA through the council deemed it necessary to donate the items considering the gravity of the damage the floods have caused the area and the families.

Further saying the assistance will go a long way in cautioning the effects of the devastation that families experienced.

“We know there are a multitude of victims out there that need urgent attention and support hence the assistance which we believe will make a significant impact one way or another,” he explained.

Jeri has since disclosed plans to engage chiefs in an effort to identify land that will be allocated to communities residing in the flood prone areas to relocate to upland in order to prevent and protect further disasters from happening.

One of the beneficiaries Lindsey Mwangonde of Mwanyongo village in TA Kyungu, expressed gratitude for the assistance as she recalled the night of December 30th as she was awoken by raging water that made there way to her house.

“I never anticipated that we would be receiving the donation its like a dream come true hence I can now smile,” she articulated.

On his part Chairperson for Mpande Area Civil Protection Committee (ACPC) Advocate Mbale, appealed for further assistance in farming inputs as many families have lost all of their crops that they had planted a situation which further threaten food security in their households and the district.

Environment, Malawi

“New Disaster Risk Management law ready by Jan 2023”-DoDMA

Lloyd M’bwana
Chisala and Kalemba (from left)

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The much awaited enactment of Disaster Risk Management Bill is expected to become a new law by January 2023 raising hopes to contain current situation on disaster management.

Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) Commissioner Charles Kalemba told The Maravi Post during the three day national dialogue platform for anticipatory action in Malawi on Wednesday, October 20, 2022 that the bill is at Ministry of Justice that this coming Parliament session will be on the agenda.

The assurance comes barely months after Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) planed to meet President Lazarus Chakwera on stalled enactment of Disaster Risk Management Bill.

CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng’oma told the news conference in February this year that the enactment of the bill is long over due that urgent attention from high office needs to intervene.

But Kalemba has now assured stakeholders in disaster sector that the new law will compel government to put more resources in managing disasters.

With the new law coming, the commissioner disclosed that citizens will have rights to take government to court if it fails its responsibility towards containing disaster.

“We should expect the new law in place by January 2023. Its at Ministry of Justice that thereafter will go through cabinet then Parliament for deliberation.

“The department will make sure that resources be enough to implement programs in managing disasters not only on papers,” assures Kalemba.

In her remarks, Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) Director of Programs Prisca Chisala whose organisation is working closely with DoDMA hopes that the new law will ease resources burden towards disasters.

Chisala said the national dialogue is vital towards the implementation of disasters policy and frameworks

“The two and half days’ workshop seeks to develop a joint Malawi Anticipatory Action Roadmap to help institutionalize but also harmonize the coordinated efforts.

“The Anticipatory Action Roadmap for Malawi will further integrate and builds on the Southern Africa Regional Anticipatory Action Roadmap which the Government of Malawi is a party to it,” she said.

Chisala added, “It is high time for Government of Malawi and other development agencies to consolidate and harmonize our activities that are being implemented in different parts of the country. The different response mechanisms put in place in mitigating to the multiple hazards that affect the country every year requires joint efforts for strengthening the capacities at different levels. 

“The Anticipatory Actions Roadmap will provide space for upscaling the good practices that each institution is promoting. Thus, regular interface between different actors is paramount in our day-to-day work. The role which each partner will play in this meeting will be appreciated”.

The Anticipatory Actions in Malawi which is under the theme; “Ready to Act before Disaster Impact” has attracted stakeholder in disasters.

Danish Red Cross through the ECHO funded project has finance the conference alongside with other partners including FAO and other UN agencies with resources, time and guidelines towards preparations of the meeting.

Environment, Malawi

“Early warning vital in disaster preparedness”-DoDMA

Lloyd M’bwana
Disaster Day

DEDZA-(MaraviPost)-The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has emphasized the need for general public to take early warnings seriously in disaster preparedness.

The department says early warnings help communities to be alert ahead of any disasters for less casualties.

DoDMA commissioner Charles Kalemba told International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) commemoration gathering on Thursday, October 13, 2022 at Goshen Primary School in Dedza that the department is geared up with early warning messages to the public ahead of rainy season.

Under the theme; “Early warning and early action for all”, this year’s IDDR commemoration focuses on the 7th target of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, “Substantially increase the availability of and access to multi-hazard early warning systems and disaster risk information and assessments to people by 2030.”

Kalemba observes that this year’s rainy season is similar to that of 2021/2022 which had torrential rainfall coupled with cyclones.

He therefore disclosed that Malawi Government has set aside over MK76 billion for mitigating effects of disaster.

Learners carrying placards with early warning messages

The commissioner said this year’s IDDR commemoration aims at ensuring that appropriate early warnings are timely and consistently received, well understood and acted upon by the intended audience with the goal of reducing losses and damages resulting from disasters.

Kalemba however complained that Malawi continues losing lives despite the investments the country has made in the early warning system.

“This year’s theme is of significance considering the number of disaster events that have claimed precious lives, eroded economic gains and disrupted service delivery across the country.

“In commemorating the day, we are also aiming at bringing awareness on the global targets reflected in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Each year, from 2016, we have been focusing on one target of the Sendai Framework, what has been termed as the Sendai 7 campaign, 7 targets for 7 years. This has been the practice for the last 6 years and this year being the last year,” he said.

Kalemba therefore commended donor partners including World Bank through the Malawi Resilience and Disaster Risk Management Project, Government of Malawi, World Vision Malawi; Care International; Save the Children; International Organisation for Migration; United Purpose in collaboration with Self Help Africa, COOPI, Concern World Wide; and Malawi Red Cross Society for always being friend in the timely need.

Ministry of Water and Sanitation ‘s Principal Secretary (PS) Elias Chimulamba urged Malawians to pay attention to details regarding the early warning messages, which will be provided.

Chimlambe assured that Malawi Government is ready to respond to this year’s disasters.

In her remarks, Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) Director of Programs, Prisca Chisala, who represented development partners, promised to continue supporting the Malawi Government in order to implement the disaster strategies.

Chisala said as partners to government, they are working towards supporting the department to disseminate the weather forecast to all the districts.

She therefore disclosed that MRCS is working with the Department of Disaster Management (DoDMA) to review the contingency plans, which will be critical in supporting preparedness actions at different levels.

“Another key message, Sir is encouraging the households living in disaster prone areas to move to higher and safer places. This remains paramount as a preparedness action.

“It is our duty to ensure that the communities are prepared ahead of the forecasted weather and that they take the timeliest required action,” Chisala said.

Some of the activities being implemented at community level are building the capacity of civil protection structures at all levels, provision of early warning equipment to enhance prompt action, undertaking simulation activities to measure the level of our preparedness.

The commemoration has attracted communities leaders, villagers, primary schools learners, government officials, media and civil society organizations.

The event started with solidarity march from Thukuli village to Goshen school.

corruption, Malawi

DODMA officials denied bail; 7 more days in the cooler

Maneno Chimulala
DODMA officials after court hearing

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Sixteen officials from the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma) who were arrested for alleged abuse of K4.6 million Covid-19 funds have been denied bail.

Lilongwe Chief Resident Magistrate, Patrick Chirwa, said the State needs more time to investigate the matter.

The court has given the State seven more days to investigate the matter.

The State asked to have the suspects remanded for 14 days so that it concludes the investigations arguing that the matter in question is a serious and complex case.

The officials who were arrested this week for allegedly abusing part of K6.2 billion Covid-19 money.

The officials include the department’s deputy director Mr Fyawupi Mwafongo, DODMA Public Relations Officer  Mr Chipiliro Khamula and 14 others.

The K6.2 billion Covid-19 money caused a storm after it was learnt that over 80 per cent of the money went into allowances for officials instead of fighting Covid-19.

Mwafongo has been charged with abuse of office where particulars states that he authorized an amount over K4 million to be used as allowances and when asked he failed to account for it.

The second charge is theft by public servant and this applies on all the 16 where the particulars are that the 16 received allowances worth k4, 250, 000 for attending a meeting in Mponera at Linde motel for two days and failed to account for it.

Malawi

More casualties in K6.2 billion scandal: Malawi leader orders interdiction of 10 PSs, 28 DCs

Maneno Chimulala
President Lazarus Chakwera

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Reports reaching Maravi Post indicate that President Lazarus Chakwera, in his pursuit to enforce accountability for the missing K6.2 billion Covid-19 response funds, has  ordered an immediate interdiction of 10 principal secretaries (PSs), 28 district commissioners (DCs) and five other senior officers interdicted.

In an interview with local media yesterday, presidential press secretary Brian Banda said the concerned controlling officers and Covid-19 response cluster heads have also been suspended from their substantive positions in the public service.

“They [controlling officers] have also been suspended in their respective jobs and positions in the civil service. They were in these Covid-19 clusters based on their posts and not as individuals,” he said.

The PSs or controlling officers suspended are from ministries of Health; Gender, Community Service and Social Welfare; Labour; Education; Homeland Security; Agriculture; Lands; Local Government; and Information.

Besides the 28 DCs, the interdictions have also extended to chief executive officers for Blantyre, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba city councils; Kasungu and Luchenza municipal councils and Mangochi Town Council, according to Banda.

On why Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, the other co-chairperson of the task force was spared, he said that as Cabinet minister she will be subjected to a Cabinet assessment.

“The minister is a political head appointed by the President and her performance is subject to the Cabinet assessment which the President is undertaking.

 “But with regards to Covid-19 response, the President has suspended the technical heads whose job is to control standards and expenditure as controlling officers,” Banda said.

There are 15 clusters of coordination; communication; health; water, sanitation and hygiene (Wash); protection and social support; economic empowerment; employment and labour force; education; security; transport; agriculture; nutrition; shelter; and local government.

But labour law expert Mauya Msuku has described the extension of the suspension to substantive positions of the cluster heads in the civil service as tricky, saying that interdiction must apply in cases where it can easily be proved that holding of office can potentially interfere with investigations.

He said the presidential directive may not be sufficient to warrant interdiction or suspension as there has to be an administrative arrangement to communicate the same to affected employees in writing as well as grounds for the decision.

 Msuku said: “Essentially, the presidential directive is not sufficient that is why perhaps he directed the SPC [Secretary to the President and Cabinet] to effect the suspension not to be seen to be usurping power from institutions that handle employment matters.

 “For PSs, it can be argued that the President has powers to make such action because they report to the SPC who is appointed by the President, but I insist that there has to be written communication on this.”

He argued that the officers should have been suspended or removed from clusters and not interdicting them on their substantive positions.

“It is a practice in government to interdict someone each time there is an allegation. It must be for a purpose, for example, where there is sufficient suspicion that they would prejudice the investigation.

“I do not really know the relationship between the PS and management of Covid-19 funds, but I think not every allegation must be subjected to interdiction and this is one case,” Msuku said.

On his part, Institute for Policy Interaction executive director Rafiq Hajat said the suspension has the potential to victimise some people while shielding actual wrongdoers.

The interdiction of the senior officers comes few days after the president fired the commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and a co-chairperson of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for failing to demand accountability on funds spent on fighting the pandemic.

Chakwera also ordered an immediate overhaul of the country’s civil service, saying the “whole system is corrupt and in need of cleanup.”

The president’s moves follows reported mismanagement of over 6.2 billion Malawi kwacha (about 8 million U.S. dollars) meant for COVID-19 response, as exposed by the country’s Office of the Ombudsman.

In a related development, Deputy Director in the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (Dodma), Fyawupi Mwafongo, was on Tuesday arrested by Malawi Police for his alleged involvement in the K6.2 billion scandal.

On Feb. 7, the Malawi leader gave controlling officers and cluster leaders in COVID-19 committees 48 hours to submit comprehensive expenditure reports on the funds, a task most of the leaders failed to fulfill.

The K6.2 billion scandal came in the limelight after patriotic citizen Idriss Ali Nassah, using an access to information law, asked for a detailed expenditure report from DoDMA.

However, the disaster department failed to do as demanded, a move that raised eye brows and the president joined the cause by demanding the reports from all cluster leaders within 48 hours.