Former Presidents Bakili Muluzi and Joyce Banda on Friday launched construction of houses for survivors of cyclone Freddy, which displaced thousands in the southern region.

The two presidents are goodwill ambassadors of President Lazarus Chakwera’s cyclone Freddy recovery initiative, Tigwirane Manja.

A ceremony marking the launch of the initiative took place at Traditional Authority Njema in Mulanje, where 10 houses will be constructed in the first phase.

At Least 136 two and three-bedroomed houses will be constructed in the affected districts.

25, 000 households were displaced in Mulanje alone where 151 people have died, 217 are still missing and 147 people sustained injuries following one of the worst cyclones to hit Malawi.