Sarah Tongoloti (46), a widow and single mother of seven, was once a successful business woman and a model for both the young and the old on top of being a Village Headwoman of Thompson village under GVH Mtemangawa in Nsanje. She also set an example to fellow local leaders to be self-reliant and not to depend on fines and government allowances. Tongoloti was trading second-hand clothings business from where she was making 100% profits after sales and would get her supplies from Blantyre City. Sadly, Cyclone Freddy happened and left her with completely nothing to sustain herself and her family which is the genesis of her mental health problems that have refused to let her be.
“I was sleeping and I suddenly heard a strange noise outside and decided to check what was happening. Upon opening the door, water entered into my house and by the time I was about to escape, I was swept away but by God’s grace I was held on some small tree,” narrates Tongoloti.
By the time people heard her screaming for help since she was staying at a relatively higher ground, she was found almost naked and as the waters had swept away the wrapper she was putting on. She was home alone since her children had gone to school. Tongoloti had also withdrawn MK 2.5 million to purchase supplies in Blantyre for her business very early on the 14th of March 2023, a day ahead of the fateful day. This has rendered her unable to take care of children and provide their school needs. “As they were rescuing me, covering my nakedness and taking me to an evacuation camp, I had lost my cognitive ability and a number of attempts by members of the Village Civil Protection Committee (VCPC) as well as a representative from the District Social Welfare Office proved futile.” Recalls Tongoloti.
Within a few days, her situation had worsened and she was taken to the hospital where they found her without any physical illness, but a mental health problem due to overthinking and stress. The people that took her to the hospital were advised to closely monitor her situation and not to leave her unattended for a long time since the hospital could not admit her. Tongoloti was experiencing persistent headaches due to overthinking and this has been the case to date. This has rendered her unable to take care of children and provide their school needs.
Tongoloti’s first born son who was in senior secondary school class at one of Malawi’s best private schools, was forced to drop out. His mother was no longer able to afford to pay for his education needs even in the least expensive public schools. Due to desperation, the young man accepted an offer by one of his mother’s friends to join them in Nkhotakota to lessen Tongoloti’s pressure and support the education needs of her son.
“My son was promised to be supported in his education but to my surprise, he called me about a week ago informing me that he would like to come back home because he has not been going to school and that he is being used as a laborer in the field.” lamented Tongoloti.
This has added another burden to Tongoloti as she has no money to bring back her son and regrets why she trusted her old friend. Tongoloti is also at the Mercy of her landlord who has still allowed her to stay in their house although three months have passed without settling the rentals. She has to figure out how to feed her remaining five children including all the other basic necessities and school needs. During the time of our engagement, one of the older daughters of Tongoloti was at home because her mother cannot afford to pay for her school fees. Another daughter also left the house and is currently staying with another family, within GVH Mtemangawa, but dropped out of school as well.
Despite her destitute status, she sometimes visits her former colleagues at the market to pass time as well as help out in their businesses. She believes that providing her with a loan to resuscitate her business would be the only solution to minimize the trauma that she goes through. Her condition is triggered when she thinks about how to resolve her daily challenges that were not a problem at all before the disaster.
On the other hand, Tongoloti commends CARD Malawi for the Psycho-social training that some local leaders in GVH Mtemangawa have gone through. She believes that this will help in providing the prompt support to survivors of climate-induced non-economic loss and damage. She cited that she has also benefited from the visits by some members of the VCPC who regularly check up on her.
