Cyclone Freddy: Bureaucracy affecting relocation exercise-Snr Chief Malemia

Senior Chief Malemia of Nsanje District has attributed the delays in the relocation and resettlement of people affected by cyclone Freddy in the district to what he describes as Bureaucracy in government processes.

About 450 households from Group village Moomba under the senior Chief who were affected by the Cyclone expressed willingness to relocate, following which the Senior Chief provided them land at Group Village Mbangu in March this year.

According to Malemia, swift action needs to be taken if progress in the relocation exercise is to be made.

“These people, if that is not done, they have no where to go to. But for all of us, we have done our part. I have given them land, I have give them a place for resettlement and the letters are already on the desk of Mr Kalemba and the rest of the government team,” Malemia disclosed.

He further indicated that they had already done discussions with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs-DoDMA on the relocation exercise.

“People from Mponda area and Mambundungu and the rest have shown willingness to say they don’t want to be resettled were they had problems. Now we have talked to DoDMA through the commissioner Charles Kalemba, that are more than willing to stay finding the resettlement process.” Malemia added.

Meanwhile, District Commissioner for Nsanje Dominic Mwandira has acknowledged the delays, saying they were waiting for letters from another Village, Mambundungu which also expressed interest to relocate which are yet to reach the office.

“Initially, we were told that the land is available at GVH Alundu, but when we went there to confirm land availability, it was established that there was not land there. At the same time we did ask Senor Chief Malemia to identify land for people of Mwabundungu to also be relocated. In that case we were told that land is available at G H Lambwe and we told the Senior Chief to confirm through writing that land is available,” explained Mwandira.

Mwandira has since indicated that the DC will go ahead with plans to relocate those whose letters were submitted.