By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, May 23, Mana: Communities in Mchengautuwa East and West Wards in Mzuzu City have applauded a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) funded project for training and encouraging community structures to develop early disaster warning systems in the city.

The project, Strengthening All-inclusive Disaster Preparedness and Linking Early Warning to Early Action, is being implemented by UN-Habitat.

In an interview on Wednesday, Ward Disaster Risk Management Committee leader for Mchengautuwa West Ward, Emmanuel Chiumia, said the project has encouraged community members to learn more about early warning disaster signs.

Chiumia said the project has also facilitated formulation of sub-structures which are responsible for lobbying individual households to desist from practices that aid disaster.

“From the trainings we have been getting, we are encouraged to involve community members in disaster preparedness initiatives. For example, we have sub-committees led by block leaders which help us in engaging members that are practicing behaviours that could aid disaster.

“Currently, we have seen community members holding routine clearing of drains and are also policing each other to stop members from throwing wastes in drains which can cause poor drainage,” said Chiumia.

While applauding the project for providing funds for renovation of some old drains in the wards, Chiumia appealed for more support for construction of additional drains for easy sustainability of check dams.

“Through the project, we have been provided with funds to construct check dams along our roads to help reduce runoff which in turn reduces flash floods in our township. However, the effectiveness of these check dams is compromised because most of them are constructed in roads with no proper drains,” he said.

A member of Disaster Grievance Redress Committee for the two wards, Charles Gondwe, said since the project established the committees and trained them, people have understood the importance of working together to avert disasters.

Mzuzu City Disaster Risk Management Officer, Precious Mandala, said since the community structures began working on their disaster preparedness work plans, response to disaster in the area has improved.

“Training and establishment of these structures has helped reduced pressure on the council as they are able to develop their own disaster preparedness work plans and resolve disaster related grievances.

“Each year, the two wards have been having a minimum of 30 households being affected but this year, we have seen the figure decreasing because apart from persuading households to move out of disaster prone areas before disasters, the structures are also able to make assessments and provide assistance before the council comes in,” said Mandala.

The project is also being implemented in Blantyre, Lilongwe and Zomba.

In Mzuzu, the project is implemented in Mchengautuwa West and East, Zolozolo West and Nkhorongo Wards.