DMMU aids 248 Kitwe flood victims

THE Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) will help the 248 flood victims in Kitwe’s Kandabwe Township with the ‘build back better’ programme in which 12 roofing sheets and 10 bags of cement will be given to each affected family.

DMMU National Coordinator, Chanda Kabwe, said 248 houses in kandabwe were flooded following heavy rains while the 60 houses collapsed.

The victims were given mealie-meal to mitigate the problems.

Mr Kabwe said under the ‘build back better’ programme, each affected family would be given 10 pockets of cement and 12 roofing sheets to put up better structures.

He said the DMMU would give food to the affected families from now up to the end rainy season.

"We have done the tour of the township and we have seen the problems caused by the heavy rains. There are more than 200 families affected

"So, as DMMU, we will help the affected families with the build back better programme where each family will receive 10 bags of cement and 12 roofing sheets," Mr Kabwe said.

He said people should not be allowed to construct structures on the banks of the rivers or streams because it always resulted into disasters which were costly to Government.

"Regardless of whether this is unplanned settlement or not, Government will always move in, to protect the lives of the people.

“This is why I am telling you that people should not be allowed to construct structures on the banks of the rivers or streams. When people's houses collapse, it becomes costly to look after the people, " Mr Kabwe noted.