By Aliko Munde
Mzimba, May 14, Mana: M’mbelwa District Council has applauded government for a 10 housing unit donation to be placed in borders and health centres in the district, worth over K9 million.
M’mbelwa District Council, Chairperson Dan Nkosi said the units would help to ease shortage of housing for coronavirus suspects.
He made the remarks Wednesday when he received the units from Ministry of Disaster Management Affairs and Public Events with each housing unit costing K 9 million.
“Mzimba District borders Zambia and at our Mqocha Border Post, we don’t have any structure for our health workers to do screening services for Covid-19,” he said.
M’mbelwa District Council Disaster Desk Officer, George Gopani said the District Council requested the Ministry 24 housing units.
“These 10 housing units will be placed at Mqocha Border Post, in few health centres and unchartered route points in the district,” he said.
He said a two bedroom housing unit will accommodate security officers who patrol the border area.
In an interview with spokesperson in the Ministry of Disaster Management Affairs and Public Events, Chipiliro Khamula said UNHCR donated 272 housing units to the Ministry of Disaster Management Affairs and Public Events, in March, 2020 and 36 to the Ministry of Health.
“The housing units donated to Ministry of Disaster Management Affairs and Public Events were meant to provide shelter to people displaced by various disasters.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic, councils, mostly those sharing boarders with our neighbouring countries, have been requesting the Ministry to provide them with housing units and tents for screening and quarantine purposes,” he said.
Khamula said the requests from District Councils have created a huge demand for tents and housing units.
“The Ministry is providing almost half of the requested tents and housing units as it works on some ways to meet the demand,” he added.
