By Dean Chisambo

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential aspirant Paul Gadama has donated assorted items to people who have been affected by
Cyclone Freddy in Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Phalombe and Blantyre districts.

Speaking in an interview with 247 Malawi.com Gadama said many people have died and it is a high time not to concentrate on politics but focus on unity and work together to help those people who are in a big problem due to cyclone Freddy.

He said the government has its own part to do and as the Malawian citizens they have their own part to do by helping those people who are in a hopeless situation not because of their plan but due to natural disaster.

Gadama who refused to disclose the exact amount of the money he had spent on the items, appealed to the international organisations to come and help Malawi on this tragic situation.

He said: “honestly, I will not give you exactly figure because, I was just doing things according to the need of the ground, I could send boys to buy papers, buckets, blankets and some areas there is a demand of flour.So is not one thing at once to do but we are still doing it especially in Thyolo, Phalombe and Chiradzulu and we are also approached by some organisation that they want also to support them, so it is very difficult for me to disclose a ransom amount.”

He also urged the government to introduce a risk management plan and response since disasters have been happening frequently which can help to respond to the natural disasters on time.

Gadama further advised politicians not to politicise anything because of the problem which the nation has faced, The government has taken it as a disaster and is responding to it as a disaster and every citizen has a responsibility to help the people who are affected by the cyclone.

He said: “I don’t believe my candidature in DPP is totally different with helping people because my main interest is to help the people in the nation not in the region,district, community but the nation at large.”

Gadama donated maize flour, buckets , blankets,plastic papers and other items in Thyolo,Chiradzulu, Phalombe and Blantyre and some parts of the central region respectively.

Cyclone Freddy which originated from Madagascar claimed more than 200 people in the country and many have been sustained injuries, livestocks, crops and houses have been washed away in the district of Phalombe, Blantyre, Chiradzulu, Thyolo, Mwanza, Mulanje, Mangochi, Chikwawa and Zomba urban.

President Lazarus Chakwera declared the state of emergency on his arrival from the least developing countries summit in Qatar on Monday.