Heavy rains which have been pouring from new year till today have swept away some bridges and houses rendering people homeless.

A bridge connecting Mgona and Roberts in Kanengo has been swept away while another bridging Mgona and Ngomani is also gone as are all bridges across Nankhaka river.

Another bridge across Mchesi river connecting Kawale and the township named after the river has been extensively damaged.

The rains have also destroyed houses at Chipasula, Mgona, Senti and Area 25 leaving occupants helpless.

Department of Disaster Management (Dodma) on Thursday appealed to Lilongwe residents living in flush floods prone areas to leave following reports that more heavy rains are expected Malawi.

Dodma deputy director of disaster and response, Dyce Nkhoma visited Mgona where the department reached out to the affected households.

“We just heard about the reports that some houses have been damaged. As government we came to give first assistance such as food to alleviate suffering and we are now waiting for the assessment report,” he said.

It is not the first time that Mgona is experiencing floods as the situation was the same last year.

Nkhoma said discussions are underway to ensure people move out of the area.

“We are appealing to the media to sensitise the community so that citizens are not blocking the drainage system,” he said.

In his remarks Lilongwe City Center constituency parliamentarian Alfred Jiya commended government for the assistance.

Disaster has struck Lilongwe City Center as heavy rains destroyed an estimated 100 houses leaving occupants homeless.

Continuous rains caused havoc from around 6 pm on new year’s eve in the city.

The flush floods were aggrevated by an unfinished road drainage in Area 25 while in Senti and Mgona, Nankhaka river burst its banks.

On Wednesday Mchesi river also burst its banks causing floods along Chidzanja road and all the way to Chipasula

SOURCE: Kulinji

The Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Mary Navicha has expressed criticism and concern over the manner in which the Malawi Human Rights Commission has handled the release of the outcome of their investigations on the Nsundwe incidents. The minister accuses the human rights commission of leaking the report to social media and other media houses before it was officially presented to her.

In a press statement made available to 247Malawi media , Navicha said “
As a Ministry mandated on the Welfare of Malawians, we are committed to ensure that the rights of every Malawian is safeguarded and protected. As such, on 17th October, 2019, the Ministry released the Press Statement titled “Condemnation of Alleged defilement, Rape and Torture of Women and Girls at Nsundwe” following the Nsundwe incident.

As a Ministry, we are aware that the Malawi Human Rights Commission has been investigating three issues relating to Nsundwe incidents as follows: “the death of the Police Officer”, “the general commotion at Nsundwe” and “the allegations on the sexual abuse on women and girls.”

The statement went on to say , The Ministry has noted with grave concern that the report we have been waiting for has not been released officially nor presented to the Ministry and other stakeholders, instead, it is circulating on social media and being discussed with the international media houses. This to us, is a sad development.

The Ministry would therefore like to condemn such behavior by Malawi Human Rights Commission and request the organization to immediately share the official report with the relevant stakeholders including the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare. This will enable the Ministry address the issues raised and work on the recommendations made.

In conclusion, the Ministry reiterates its commitment to work with the public and private institutions willing to find lasting solutions to all forms of Gender based violence in line with standing national laws.

Malawi Human rights commission is yet to respond to the critisism.