Malawi Parliament Passes Disaster Risk Management Bill to Align with Modern Developments

LILONGWE, Malawi - Malawi Parliament on Wednesday passed the Disaster Risk Management Bill, which seeks to repeal the Disaster Preparedness and Relief Act (Cap. 33:05) and replace it with a new Act in order to align the law with developments in the area of disaster preparedness, risk reduction, response, and recovery, writes Esther Banda.

The legislator for Machinga Likwenu, Bright Msaka, expressed support for the bill while acknowledging concerns about the government's capacity to implement it.

"The bill is really very important, and we will support it, but we have serious doubts if the Tonse government will implement it," Msaka said.

"A piece of law is written on a piece of paper, but until it is implemented by a willing and effective government, the piece of legislation means nothing."

Msaka further called upon President Chakwera to expedite the process of assenting to the bill, noting that many of its provisions are new but necessary for the relief and assistance currently needed by Malawians.

Legislator for Chitipa South and Chairperson of the Natural Resources Parliamentary Committee, Wereni Chilenga, raised concerns about gaps in the bill and the absence of a vote for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) and a commission.

"What has happened is that the commission and the vote of DoDMA are not there, instead, they have created a trust fund in that bill. Of course, we will be having money appropriated by the Parliament and money from other sources," Chilenga explained.

Chilenga also highlighted that it was unusual for ministers to receive amendments once a bill has been presented in parliament, but he was pleased that amendments had been made in consultation with the minister in this case.

In his remarks, the Minister of Justice, Titus Mvalo, emphasized that the bill seeks to bring in an improved legal framework for the preparation and management of disasters, as they are often unexpected.

Mvalo explained that the bill includes provisions for prevention, allowing the Minister to declare areas as "risk areas" and to exercise powers to relocate people to safer places.

"To relocate people from high-risk areas to safer places should not be taken as cruelty when it happens because it is meant to reduce the risk of loss of lives and properties," Mvalo said.

With the passage of the Disaster Risk Management Bill, Malawi aims to modernize its legal framework for disaster preparedness, risk reduction, and response and recovery efforts.

The implementation of the bill and addressing the concerns raised by legislators will be crucial in ensuring that the country is better equipped to mitigate the impact of disasters and protect the lives and properties of its citizens.