..K5bn worth of materials donated
..ADB, Tanzania highest at K1bn
At least K2.2 billion cash was raised for the Cyclone Freddy relief efforts, but the total value could be well over K10 billion as material donations surpassed cash, figures from the Commissioner for Disaster Preparedness and Relief Charles Kalemba have shown.
Kalemba who has managed the cyclones relief has displayed a high degree of accountability than previous DoDMA teams with its press office responding to media queries in record time.
The Investigator Magazine analysis of the donations (full report in next edition of Magazine in May) indicate that the Malawi Red Cross Society might have received K1.1 billion in mainly material donations and other initiatives including Citizens Initiative led by Stanely Onjezani Kenani and Dr Thandi Hara Msulira and dozens of GoFundMe Appeals might have raised at least K400 million.
This is the largest ever fundraising initiative since Covid 19 though recovery of the infrastructure and lives affected by the Cyclone Freddy would be well over K1 trillion.
The African Development Bank (ADB) is the largest single cash donor, followed by the Government of Tanzania which donated a total value of K1 billion in cash and kind. Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) has committed to donate K310 million, while Khato Civils is the only Malawian company to have donated through DoDMA giving out K100 million.
Kalemba said in a statement the Chinese Community in Malawi donated K30 million cash and materials worth K45 million, while the Malawi Zhejing Chinese Chamber of Commerce donated K52 million. In terms of materials the UNFPA gave out materials worth K400 million while Presidential Initiative of President Lazarus Chakwera donated material worth K120 million.
Parastatals ESCOM, MERA, MRA and MACRA coughed K50 million. PPDA and Malawi Bureau of Standards raised K20 million, Pharmacy and Poisons Board K15 million NOCMA and Tobacco Commission gave K10 million each. Other government agencies gave K5 million each including Air Cargo, LIHACO, SFFFRM, Malawi National Council of Sports and Malawi Institute of Education. Airport Developments Limited donated K4 million.
Teachers and staff in different Education Divisions across the country also turned up to assist with materials and cash the Central East Education Division giving K1.4 million while Northern and Central West Education Divisions donated K2 million each. Nkhoma CCAP Synod donated K 9 million cash and materials worth K81 million some of which were channeled through Malawi Red Cross whilst the Baptist Convention raised K7 million.
In Football the Super League of Malawi donated materials worth K19 million while the Blue Eagles Club donated K1,5 million. They are the only football club to donate through DoDMA.
In Private sector, ECOBANK gave out materials worth K100 million, Press Trust K120 million, Farmers World K20 million, Tamara Safety Products K4.5 million, Area 3 Stationery Association K5 million, Lilongwe Market Vendors Association 52 bales of clothes and other items, Mount Meru K3 million worth of products, Mota Engil K11 million worth of maize plus to rehabilitate roads and infrastructure in other districts.
Other companies that donated include Top Range Civil Engineering Contractors, NASFAM, Deyang Luke Hospital, Cement Products Limited, Salima Sugar Company, Eka Language Services, Kurgan/Edge Tech Vista Print, Star Times Media, Malawi Kulinji and Malawi Fertiliser Company.
Malawian Diplomats in India and Zimbabwe are the only ones to have donated out of the 22 missions the country has.
