Chongwe District Commissioner, Evans Lupiya, says the government, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), will provide relief food and iron sheets to five families whose houses collapsed in Mwanshelela village on 16th November 2025 following heavy rains.
Speaking during a District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) meeting, Dr Lupiya stated that the families will also be assisted with farming inputs to enable them to plant crops during this year’s farming season.
Apart from other losses, the families also lost farming inputs during the rains.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing the necessary assistance to families that will be affected by disasters in the district.
The District Commissioner has since commended the DDMC for responding swiftly to the disaster which occurred in Mwanshelela village.
“A team was assembled immediately and a report of the damaged houses was received from vice headman Mwanshelela to conduct an assessment of the disaster and recommendations on the assistance to be offered to the affected families were made,” he said.
Dr Lupiya disclosed that no life was lost and that only one person was injured during the disaster.
He said the affected families have since been provided with temporary shelter where they are being accommodated, adding that they will however need assistance to enable them to rebuild their houses.
Meanwhile, some of the affected families interviewed by the media thanked the government for showing concern towards their welfare following the disaster.
Ms Mirriam Chakaleka, whose house was damaged by the rains, said the quick response by DDMC demonstrated the government’s willingness to render the necessary assistance to the affected families.
Ms Chakaleka however appealed to the government to make efforts to provide farming inputs within the planting season.
“Our fertiliser and seeds which we bought to plant were destroyed by the rains which damaged our houses. We are appealing to the government to ensure that they don’t take too long to help us with inputs so that we can plant while our area is still receiving rains,” Ms Chakaleka said.
She also called on the government to ensure that the families are helped with iron sheets for roofing as soon as possible to enable them to construct houses before the area receives more heavy rains.
She also called on other well-wishers to supplement government efforts and render assistance to the affected families.
