Hertta- Maria Amutenja
President of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) McHenry Venaani, has urged the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) to develop key interventions to manage inevitable climate change in the country.
Venanni shared his concerns about climate change in a statement of solidarity on Cyclone Freddy that recently hit Malawi.
“I am calling upon the Ministry, as the focal point ministry to devise key interventions to manage inevitable climate change impacts through actions that build and sustain social, economic and environmental resilience and emergency response capacity so as to avoid being caught off guard in the event of any climate emergency,” he said.
In the statement, Venaani also extended sympathies to families and friends of those who lost their loved ones during Cyclone Freddy and related floods.
“I am calling on the regional bodies, which include Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) to provide the financial and material support necessary to save lives, alleviate suffering, and rebuild communities destroyed by Cyclone Freddy. This Cyclone represents the most significant natural disaster in Southern Africa in recent memory,” said Venaani.
Cyclone Freddy which first hit on February 21 in Madagascar, on March 11, reached Mozambique for the second time and then moved on to Malawi. Malawi has been the hardest-hit country so far, with incessant rains causing catastrophic flash floods. The nation’s power grid was crippled, with its hydroelectric dam rendered inoperable. Overall, the cyclone killed at least 605 people 499 in Malawi, 86 in Mozambique, 17 in Madagascar, two in Zimbambwe and one in Mauritius.
“Tropical Cyclone Freddy hit the coast of Southern Africa for a second time over the weekend, causing devastation in Malawi and its neighbour Mozambique. At least 326 people have been confirmed dead in Malawi, bringing the overall number of fatalities across the region to more than 400 since February. Venaani pledges his solidarity to the people and governments of Malawi and Mozambique.
His thoughts go out to the communities struck by this disastrous tragedy and all involved in the search and rescue efforts,“ he said
