Malawi First Deputy Speaker adopts girl with albinism

Zomba, Malawi - Madalitso Kazombo, Member of Parliament for Kasungu East and the First Deputy Speaker, has announced the adoption of 15-year-old Rabbeca Kazembe, a standard-eight girl with albinism, from Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba, writes Tionge Hara.

Kazombo made the announcement during a donation of relief items to Cyclone Freddy survivors from areas surrounding Lake Chilwa in Traditional Authority Mwambo in Zomba.

"Rabbeca is from a disadvantaged family, I have decided to adopt her so that I can see her through her education up to university," said Kazombo.

The donation, made by Water Aide, included Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) items and 150 bags of maize and other assorted food items, benefiting 150 households.

Kazombo urged Malawians to help each other during these trying times, stating that Cyclone Freddy has affected the entire nation.

"The cyclone affected us as a nation hence we need to nature a spirit of helping each other during such trying moments," said Kazombo.

Water Aide Country Director Mercy Masoo said the relief items, valued at K53 million, have been donated in three eastern region districts: Zomba, Mangochi, and Machinga.

Village headman Mbalu, speaking on behalf of Traditional Authority Mwambo, thanked Water Aide for the timely donation, stating that this was the first large relief consignment since the area was hit by the cyclone.

"We have been struggling to get food since the cyclone hit the area, our worry now is that we have been asked to move out of this area and build our homes in safer places, however, we don't have any place to go," said Mbalu.

Cyclone Freddy, which hit southern Malawi, has seen a rise in water levels at Lake Chilwa and a rise in the price of maize grain, now standing at an average of K1,000 per kilogram in most southern Malawi districts.