President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has ordered deployment of Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers in the Southern Region to render their logistical support in the affected areas ravaged by Cyclone Freddy.
According to an impeccable source inside the President’s Office, the Malawi leader is already making his way back home and will land in Malawi “on the first available flight tomorrow” to directly attend to the unfolding disaster.
The natural disaster, which has reportedly killed dozens of people so far, occurs barely a few days after the President had successfully and fruitfully held a series of discussions in Doha, Qatar, during the 5th United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Meanwhile, President Chakwera, who is also the MDF Commander-in-Chief, has declared a State of Disaster in the Southern Region of Malawi, particularly the areas comprising the jurisdictions of Blantyre City and district, Chikwawa, Mulanje, Chiladzulu, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje,Phalombe, Zomba and Thyolo.
According to a statement issued and signed by Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Ms. Colleen Zamba, the President is taking these measures out of “grave concern” over the devastation that Cyclone Freddy is bringing to most districts in Malawi’s southern region.