Chibuku Products Limited (CPL) – Malawi’s producer of opaque Chibuku beers – has donated MK45 million worth of relief support items in the form of food and non-food items to survivors of Tropical Cyclone Freddy in Thyolo, Zomba and Ndirande.
This is in addition to the financial support the company has provided towards response to the effects of the cyclone. In total, CPL has provided MK100 million to the government.
Former President Dr. Joyce Banda received the donation in Blantyre on Saturday on behalf of the Malawi Government.
CPL Managing Director Gerald Bowler observed that the devastation the cyclone caused is “just too huge to be left for the government alone”.
Bowler added that the sequence of events from previous floods, Covid-19, cholera and then the cyclone has impacted the nation very much; hence, the need for all Malawians to join hands.
“It is in times like these where collective efforts across the nation from public and corporate citizens alike, are needed to help alleviate the consequences of the cyclone on those affected. It is indeed commendable to see how the government, individuals of the public, public servants, religious organisations, civil society and corporate citizens, have taken the responsibility and initiative in supporting the relief efforts – in particular the Department of Disaster Management Affairs, which has done a commendable job in terms of managing and coordinating disaster relief activities,” he said.
“As CPL we are proud to stand with you to maximise relief efforts to the benefit of our communities and the society,” added Bowler.
The CPL Managing Director stressed that to avoid duplication of efforts and to come up with the assorted items, his company assembled a disaster relief team that went around, interacted with the committees, and did an assessment for immediate of the victims and managed to come up with the list of items that we are presenting today.
He further disclosed that some of their employees have been affected by the cyclone.
“The assessment team is also looking at the needs of 28 CPL staff whose houses have been directly affected by the cyclone to see how they can help. We have set out a fund that will assist these employees once the assessment process is completed,” he said.
“Road to recovery is very slow and painful and most of the time the victims are left on the way to continue the journey by themselves. We will continue to provide support to those that we can, until the situation has normalised. To achieve this goal, CPL will set aside k10m that will be supporting some of the victims monthly up to the end of this year. While we understand that CPL has a corporate social responsibility to step in and to provide support to those in need during a national crisis such as this, we are also motivated by love for thy neighbour and we promise fellow Malawians that we are together with all of them in this time of suffering and mourning,” assured Bowler.
In her remarks, Banda commended CPL for the donation, describing it as timely. She said the donated items will help in alleviating pain and suffering among the survivors.
