Minister of Defence Harry Mkandawire says government needs about K27 billion to repair five Malawi Defence Force (MDF) aircraft currently grounded in the country.

The sentiments come against the background of government’s delay to deploy MDF aircraft on the search and rescue mission to save people who were affected by Cyclone Freddy.

In an interview when he welcomed Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) and Botswana delegates who arrived in the country Sunday to assess the extent of the cyclones damage, Mkandawire said government has been failing to repair the aircraft due to forex shortage in the country has been experiencing.

He said: “There are four of five aircraft [grounded], so we have signed a contract with Airbus. They gave us an invoice of 21 million euro [about K27 billion]. We have the money but the problem is forex, because they wanted us to pay in foreign currency.

“So, we have already given them the deposit so we believe that very soon they [aircraft] will be up and running.”

Morwaeng (L) and other delegates welcomed by government officials

He expressed optimism that the maintenance of the grounded aircraft will start soon as government has signed a contract with Airbus to repair them.

Speaking after visiting some Cyclone Freddy survivors at Manja Primary School Evacuation Camp and the area affected by the mudslide in Chilobwe Township in Blantyre, Sadc executive secretary Elias Magosi described the situation as dire.

He said: “The situation is bad.  So, we are taking these experiences back to the secretariat and we will wait for the final assignment from the Republic of Malawi and then we will develop a progress report that we will share with all the member States.

“But on the other hand, we have already issued a letter from my office to all 16 heads of States and governments to provide support.”

Botswana Minister for State President in the Office of the President Kabo Neale Sechele Morwaeng expressed shock with the cyclone devastation in the country.

He said: “We visited Malawi in solidarity with the Malawian people. I can assure you, the Botswana Government will respond to the disaster.”

The cyclone has affected Chikwawa, Nsanje, Mulanje, Thyolo, Chiradzulu, Phalombe, Mwanza, Blantyre, Neno and Zomba districts, as well as, some lakeshore districts since Friday.

The cyclone has, so far, killed 476 and displaced 490, 098 people who are currently being housed in 533 camp sites.

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