The community members in Traditional Authority (T/A) Wasambo in Karonga District have commended Karonga Diocese of the Catholic Church for embarking on housing project which will benefit underprivileged people.
In an interview on Tuesday, a 73-year-old Margaret Nyamkonda from Thukutu Village in the area said since her house was damaged by torrential rains last year, her life has been in danger since the house developed life-threatening cracks.
“My house is a death trap and had nobody to repair it since I am a widow. I thank the Diocese for this good gesture. I have contributed K110 000 towards dambo sand and moulding of 5 000 locally made bricks,” Nyamkonda said.
Another beneficiary Bernard Msukwa, 70 of Mazumika village in the same area echoed Nyamkonda’s sentiments, saying he has been sick for some time hence, his failure to build a good house to replace the old damaged house.
He said: “I don’t have words to best thank the Diocese for the initiative. I am struggling to make ends meet, therefore, it could not be easy for me to construct a decent house.”
In an interview, Mazumika Village Development committee (VDC) chairperson Priston Gondwe while thanking the Diocese for helping the needy in the area, commended the beneficiaries for showing commitment towards the project.
“The project requires beneficiaries to contribute at least 25 percent of building materials in form of dambo sand and bricks. Additionally, there must be commitment towards taking care of the environment to reduce natural disasters that emanate from effects of climate change,” he said.
Gondwe has since urged flue cured tobacco farmers in the area to stop wanton cutting down of trees instead they intensify tree planting and vetiver grass to preserve the environment and control flow of water.
On his part, Karonga Diocese Development Department Desk Officer Franklyn Msiska said the Diocese is constructing four houses during the pilot phase in this financial year.
He said: “Our target is to construct 10 houses. However, in out pilot phase, we will construct four houses. The aim is to demonstrate how safe houses should be constructed which can resist floods, strong winds or rainstorms.”
With funding from Scottish Government through DAI Global UK, CADECOM Karonga is implementing a project called Climate Just Communities in T/A Wasambo in the District.
