By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, November 14, Mana. Mangochi District Council has established that stormy rains the district had on Thursday, November 7, 2024 affected 2,313 households as 16 people got injured in 12 villages under traditional authorities Mponda, Mapila and Ntonda in the district.

The council's spokesperson, Bishop Witmos disclosed this on Wednesday following an assessment, which the District Disaster Risk Management Committee (DDRMC) conducted recently.

According to Witmos, out of the 2,313 affected households, 1,430 are female headed while 883 are male headed.

The council spokesperson added that 319 households are displaced due to damages of their houses as the council calls for urgent assistance of tents, food and other non-food items to keep the affected households going.

“We are pleading with organization to help the victims with family tents, food items including maize or flour, rice, relish, cooking oil and nonfood items such as blankets, plastic kitchen utensils as most families lost almost everything,” added Witmos.

Mangochi Municipal Council, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ernest Kadzokoya said that the stormy rains affected 782 households in five wards in the municipality including; Chikole, Kalungu, Msukamwere, Chigawe and Ndege.

He added that a boy got injured and infrastructure damaged, citing Mpondasi primary school roof and Ndata market shed were blown off.

Kadzokoya has since appealed to individuals of goodwill and organizations to help the council with tents food and non-food items to timely assist the victims.

The assessments were underway in Traditional Authorities Chimwala and Nankumba to establish the impact of the damage due to stormy rains on Tuesday, November 13.

Apart from Mangochi, stormy rains also affected other districts in the country including, Balaka, Neno, Mwanza, Mzimba.