Creative industry players in the country have joined the fray of individuals and organisations in responding to the devastation by the Tropical Cyclone Freddy by mobilising relief items.

Art groups and individuals have since embarked on various initiatives to raise resources to help the people that have been affected by the cyclone, especially in the Southern Region.

Miss Malawi organisers Alpha Arts, led by the Second Princess Roberta Kanjelo, on Tuesday provided food items in Ndirande Township in Blantyre to families affected by the cyclone.

The organisation reached out to 58 families who are currently seeking shelter at Makata Primary School and Ndirande Hill Secondary School plus 295 people whose houses have also fallen down, but are not based at the safe shelters.

Alpha Arts business development officer Clara Saeluzika said the cyclone has caused so much damage that requiring collective efforts efforts to effectively cushion the lives of the affected people.

Miss Malawi Second Princess Roberto Kanjelo (L)hands over a donation

“There is just so much which needs to be done. That responsibility cannot be left on government alone. Miss Malawi is a national pageant and this is a national disaster and we are part of this tragedy too. We needed to pitch up and do our part,” she said.

Saeluzika said their intervention cost K1 million which they raised in partnership with hospitality service provider Amaryllis Hotel. She said they will continue engaging other partners for further assistance since there is still more to be done. 

In a related development, the Musicians Union of Malawi (MUM) has opened a relief response account where members and the public have been asked to contribute either cash or any items such as food, clothing and shelter.

MUM president Vita Chirwa in an interview yesterday said the assistance will go towards some of their members who have reportedly suffered from the disaster and the general public.

He said seven of their members have been affected by the cyclone. The house of seasoned musician Patrick Simakweli collapsed while six other members lost their loved ones and property.

He said: “We will try to raise as much as we can because our target is two-pronged. Some of it will go to our members while some will be directed to the citizenry.”

The Creatives WhatsApp forum has also established a fundraising drive to reach out to people that have been affected by the cyclone.

Coordinator of the initiative videographer Lameck Luhanga said they tap their clientelle from the same people that have been affected by the cyclone regardless the regions they come from.

“As creatives we have a big role to play when it comes to such a national response. We want to harness the power in us through our presence via the social media space to impact on the lives that are suffering as a result of this disaster,” he said.

Lilongwe-based Ngale Arts Centre has also raised a call to mobilise items such as soya pieces, sugar, salt, blankets, cooking oil and other items to be directed towards the cause.

Gospel musician Steve Wazisomo Muliya has also launched his initiative to mobilise funds and items to help those affected.

The initiative called Team Zisomo Charity Initiative has seen a lot of his fans and others bringing in contributions which will be given to the affected people.

The post Creatives jump on Cyclone Freddy response trail first appeared on The Nation Online.