The citizens of Traditional Authority Phalula in Balaka are expressing their discontent with the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA) over what they perceive as a lack of consultation in the development of the recently enacted Disaster Risk Management Act of 2023.
Yonamu Chinsewu, Chairperson of the Phalula Area Civil Protection Committee (ACPC), voiced their frustration, claiming that the law was thrust upon them without proper engagement. Chinsewu highlighted that the alterations introduced by the law were significantly impacting rural communities, including the dissolution of local committees.
During an awareness meeting focused on the national disaster risk management framework, Hasting Mwanjoka, Deputy Director responsible for resilience, acknowledged that while partial stakeholder consultations had taken place, time constraints hindered broader outreach.
On a different note, Julius Ng’oma, the National Coordinator for Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC), committed to a continued effort of engaging stakeholders across districts. This initiative aims to raise awareness about the new law and its implications, ensuring that communities are well-informed about the changes it brings forth.
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