By Linda Likomwa

Phalombe, August 29, Mana: Churches Action Relief and Development (CARD) has donated 50 push bicycles worthy of K9 million to female hubs in Traditional Authorities Nkhulambe and Chiwalo in Phalombe to assist in the dissemination of disaster information.

Speaking on Wednesday after handing over the bicycles at Traditional Authority Nkhulambe Headquarters, CARD Project Officer, Charles Msowoya said the bicycles will ease the mobility problem which has been affecting the dissemination of information to do with early warning systems which is crucial in disaster preparedness to prevent communities from being caught unaware when disaster hits.

“Today we are distributing 25 bicycles here at Nkhulambe and the remaining bicycles will be distributed at Chiwalo to address mobility problems which community groups face when disseminating information to do with disaster,” he said.

Omega Mbewe who spoke on behalf of Phalombe Council’s Director of Planning and Development thanked CARD for supporting female hubs with push bicycles saying this will address mobility challenges among female hubs in the district’s disaster-prone areas.

She said there was a need for proper care of the bicycles by among others using for its intended purposes.

“You should not wait for CARD to repair them when they develop faults. The bicycles are now the council’s property and if you fail to use them for the intended purpose, the council will withdraw them,” Mbewe added.

One of the bicycle recipients, Yankho Mukhole from Gwirima Village who is also secretary for the Village Disaster Risk Management Committee at Nkhulambe said the bicycle provision was timely and relevant as it will ease mobility challenges among community-based female hubs who are charged with disseminating information on disaster issues.

She said after Tropical Cyclone Freddy hit the district; it was hard for the female hubs to reach out communities with early warning messages due to long distances and impassable road networks.

Mukhole assured CARD and Phalombe District Council that female hubs will use the bicycles for the intended purpose and said the hubs were set to do their work as the rainy season approaches.

CARD donated bicycles to Village Disaster Risk Management Committees, youth groups, women's forums, and Village Savings and Loan (VSL) groups among others with funding from UN Women through Christian Aid.