The Catholic Diocese of Zomba in Malawi
has handed over 21 houses in different villages under Sunuzi, Sitima and Mayaka
parishes that have been built with financial assistance from the Discalced
Carmelite Community of Spain.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony of the houses, the Apostolic Administrator for Zomba Diocese, Rt. Rev. George Desmond Tambala OCD, who is also Archbishop of Lilongwe Archdiocese, urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the houses.
Fr. Korta waving ribbon franked by Very Rev.
Chaima left and Archbishop Tambala right
The Apostolic Administrator, who also belongs to the Order of the Discalced Carmelites, thanked the Spain-based Carmelites for the kind gesture. He added that the Diocese of Zomba appreciates the humanitarian support it receives from its partners which helps to transform peoples’ lives in different ways on top of proclaiming the Gospel.
The Catholic Diocese of Zomba in Malawi
has handed over 21 houses in different villages under Sunuzi, Sitima and Mayaka
parishes that have been built with financial assistance from the Discalced
Carmelite Community of Spain.
Speaking at the official handover
ceremony of the houses, the Apostolic Administrator for Zomba Diocese, Rt. Rev.
George Desmond Tambala OCD, who is also Archbishop of Lilongwe Archdiocese,
urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the houses.
The Apostolic Administrator, who
also belongs to the Order of the Discalced Carmelites, thanked the Spain-based
Carmelites for the kind gesture. He added that the Diocese of Zomba appreciates
the humanitarian support it receives from its partners which helps to transform
peoples’ lives in different ways on top of proclaiming the Gospel.
Archbishop Tambala lamented that the aftermath of Cyclone Freddy was very disastrous as many people lost their lives, houses and crops. He added that survivors of Cyclone Freddy lost many life-sustaining assets, hence the need for well-wishers to join hands in addressing their plights.
One of the houses built under the Project.
In his address to the gathering
that came to witness the handovers and subsequent blessing of the houses, the
representative of the Discalced Carmelite Community, who is also the Provincial
of St. Juachim Navarra Province in Spain, Father Jon Korta, said he was
delighted with the project, saying that it will reduce the housing challenges
some of the survivors of Cyclone Freddy in Zomba district are facing.
Fr. Korta said that the housing project is one of the ways of trying to help the survivors to rebuild their lives after the disaster.
Fr. Korta singing with people in front of one of
the donated houses
In her appreciation after
receiving a house, one of the beneficiaries from Kambalame Village in the area
of Senior Chief Chikowi under Mayaka parish, Elestina Dyton, commended
Archbishop Tambala and the Discalced Carmelites of Spain for considering
Cyclone Freddy survivors in Zomba.
The Bishop-elect of Zomba
Diocese, Very Reverend Alfred Mateyu Chaima, also attended the ceremony.
Recent statistics from Zomba
District Council show that close to 30, 000 families were affected by Cyclone
Freddy in a number of ways ranging from loss of relatives to loss of property
and crops. The statistics further reveal that 9, 000 houses were affected by
the Cyclone whereby some houses completely collapsed while others had different
degrees of destruction.
Recently, the Council issued an advice
to all the people who intend to build houses to avoid doing so in disaster-prone
areas to mitigate climate change-related disasters such as floods that put
their lives at risk.
The Council further encouraged people to seek expert advice first before embarking on any construction project so that they can build strong and resilient houses that can withstand the test of adverse weather conditions that are exacerbated by climate change.