Former president Bakili Muluzi in his capacity as Cyclone Freddy goodwill ambassador and Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) have signed a $500 000 agreement for reconstruction of houses that were damaged in the Cyclone Freddy disaster in March this year.

Muluzi said under the agreement, MRCS will use the funds, which have been sourced from Dozy Mmobuosi Foundation, to construct 45 houses in Phalombe and 30 houses in Zomba.

Muluzi and Majiya sign the agreement

“The funds received will directly contribute to the construction of houses, providing vital shelter and stability to the affected individuals and families,” he said.

Muluzi said Malawi was plunged into a big problem by the cyclone and that there is need for Malawians to work together.

“We are not only talking about houses. We are also talking about roads, schools and sanitation,” he said.

MRCS president Innocent Majiya thanked the Operation Tigwirane Manja, in which Muluzi and former president Joyce Banda are good will ambassadors, for entrusting his organisation with the implementation of the project and he pledged that the works will be carried out to the required standard.

“We will construct strong houses that will withstand weather impacts,” he said.

Majiya further said the houses will be constructed within four months.

This will not be the first time that MRCS had been involved in post-disaster houses. The society also constructed 435 houses in Zomba, Phalombe, Chikwawa and Nsanje in the aftermath of cyclones Ana, Gombe and Idai.

Department of Disaster Management Affairs director of recovery and resilience Peter Chimangeni said a post-disaster needs assessment established that Cyclone Freddy destroyed over 100 000 houses.

“The department and its partners estimate that the recovery cost for the houses is nearly K200 billion,” he said.

Chimangeni disclosed that the Joyce Banda Foundation has also constructed over 140 houses.

He, however, noted that there is still a gap that needs to be addressed before the onset of the rains.

“As a department we have engaged the partners including the World Bank who have promised about $100 million towards recovery and resilience. We have also seen the Africa Development Bank enquiring about areas where they can assist,” he said.

Cyclone Freddy hit the Southern Region in March leaving 676 dead, 1 724 injured, 537 people missing and over 600 000 people displaced.

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