Thousands Relocated to Safer Areas in Nsanje to Avoid Flooding
The decision comes after the area faced severe flooding from tropical cyclones Ana and Gombe in 2020, as well as Tropical Cyclone Freddy in 2023.
Nsanje, Malawi— The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has reported that over 26,000 people in the area of Senior Chief Mlolo in Nsanje have accepted relocation to safer, higher ground from the flood-prone Island of Makhanga, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
The decision comes after the area faced severe flooding from tropical cyclones Ana and Gombe in 2020, as well as Tropical Cyclone Freddy in 2023.
The entire area of Makhanga was flooded, making it uninhabitable and covered with sand and soil.
The Commissioner for DoDMA, Charles Kalemba, revealed that nine group village heads in the Makhanga area have given their approval for the relocation, recognising the need to move to safer locations.
Kalemba confirmed that his department is in the process of relocating social services from Makhanga to the new sites for the communities' use.
The relocation exercise is also being carried out in the West Bank of Nsanje, with a total population of over 40,000 expected to be relocated.
He expressed gratitude to the African Development Bank (ADB) for their grant to the government to support the relocation exercise and provide assistance to the affected people.
Nsanje North Member of Parliament, Enock Masauko Chizuzu, commended the residents for complying with the call to relocate to safer areas for their future safety, expressing satisfaction with the relocation of people from Makhanga and other flood-prone areas.
Group Village Headman Makwalo conveyed that the locals have fully understood the need to leave flood-prone areas, ensuring that they will no longer be victims of floods following the relocation. She urged the relevant authorities to provide materials for shelter construction in the new locations.
The traditional leader also encouraged those who are still resisting relocation to reconsider, emphasising the uncertainty of the situation in the prone areas in the future.