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Parliament committee visits projects

On Thursday (18th August 2016), the Budget and Finance Committee of Parliament visited Civic Centre to be briefed on the government funded road projects.

Road-tour-by-Budget-committee
Committee members accompanied by Council staff tour road project

The Committee, led by its chairperson Honourable Rhino Chiphiko, expressed its satisfaction with the progress of the roads upgrading works.
After the briefing on the projects, the Members of Parliament were taken on a tour of the 3.5 km Chilomoni Ring Road.

Smart Blantyre initiative taking shape

One of the Public Sector Reform areas is Smart City Initiative which is being undertaken by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) and Blantyre City Council has been selected to pilot the initiative.

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Mayor Noel Chalamanda and Cllr George Chipwete chair of Finance Committee appreciate the e-payment device as demonstrated by Malswitch oficial

Smarty City is emerging as a strategy to mitigate the problems generated by the urban population growth and rapid urbanization. A Smart City interconnects human capital, social capital, and ICT infrastructure in order to address public issues.

Through this interconnection, a sustainable development is achieved and the quality of life for citizens is improved.

The smart cities rely on, among others, a collection of smart computing technologies that are applied to critical infrastructure components and services

Taking advantage of this development, Malswitch presented to the Council Parking, E-Ticketing and Mobile City Rates Collection platforms for consideration.

Blantyre City Council is indeed Taking the City Back to the People

President pledges more development in the city

President Peter Mutharika has pledged continued development in cities and town of the country.

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President Mutharika leaves Civic Centre to tour the roads projects

Speaking on Monday, 27 June 2016 when he toured Roads Upgrading to Asphalt Surfacing Projects, Mutharika said roads are a catalyst for development hence the need to have a good road network in cities and towns.

“We are going to continue upgrading ring roads and construct new roads to ease congestion around the major cities and towns,” said Mutharika. “These road projects are being funded by your tax money not donors. So continue paying tax for continued development.”

The State president also urged the people against vandalism.

“Vandalism impedes development. We must not man-handle culprits of vandalism rather report them to the Police. I assure you that the courts will issue stiff punishments so that we rid this malpractice among us,” said Mutharika.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa said his ministry will work hand in hand with councils in serving the people.

The president toured the Bangwe—Mpingwe road, Living Waters—Zion road and the Chilomoni—Sigerege road.

 

Primary School girls receive sanitary materials

Junior Chambers International (JCI) with funding from Airtel Malawi, on 22nd June 2016 donated sanitary materials to Manja Primary School.

Sanitary-materials
One of the students receive the sanitary materials from officials

Among the materials, JCI donated sanitary pads, washing soap, hand washing soap and latrine disinfectant.

Councillor Nellie Nseula said; “Junior Chamber International has demonstrated dedication to their community and taken initiative to make Manja Primary School a better learning environment for the girl pupils here.”

She further encouraged the young girls at the school to continue working hard in school and not to let anyone discourage them from being someone great in the future. “you are diamonds, so shine!”

Local president of JCI Elizabeth Chirambo said that they had discovered in 2015 that the major threat Manja Primary School faces is girl students absconding classes because they are on their menstrual period, hence the donation of sanitary materials to the school.

Mrs Mary Single, Headmistress of the school said, “We are very happy to receive this donation from JCI, and we are going to take care of the sanitary materials.”

One of the students at Manja Primary School, Mary Choka, expressed her gratitude towards JCI for their gesture as it was a serious problem at their school.

Mayor opens Maison de la France

Mayor Noel Chalamanda patronized the opening of the Jacaranda Cultural Centre/ Maison de la France located at old CFAO, Top Mandala, on the Monday, June 13, 2016.

Chalamanda expressed his gratitude towards the Jacaranda Foundation for the establishment of the Cultural Centre in the City.

“This is a welcome development and a much needed space for creativity and free expression. Thank you for giving our children the opportunity to discover themselves, pursue their dreams and be who they want to be,” said Chalamanda.

“Blantyre City Council shares the Foundation’s belief that the arts are a powerful tool for child development, advocacy and character building. The Council, therefore, is in full support of the establishment of the cultural centre and will play its part to ensure that it is not only sustained in the years to come, but it flourishes,” he said.

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So, Burke, Da Silva, Chalamanda and Deschamps after the opening of the centre

Executive Director and Honorary French Consul to Malawi Mr Luc Deschamps said the Centre aims to provide a place for all of Blantyre and Malawi’s artists to showcase their talents in music, poetry, dance, Art and film.

The Maison de la France will act as the French Consular Agency and information bureau for Blantyre City.

Marie Da Silva, Founder of Jacaranda Foundation said the Centre is a place for the children of Blantyre and Malawi to find hope and build themselves.

The evening was spiced up by music, theatre dance performances by Agorosso, Patrick Simakweli, Waliko Makhala and the Jacaranda students themselves who performed comedy sketch and a collaborated hip-hop dance with visiting students from the Shanghai School of America in China.

 

Built Environs students in sweeping exercise

Polytechnic’s Faculty of Built Environment students in partnership with Blantyre City Council on Thursday (June 9, 2016) conducted a sweeping exercise at Blantyre Market.

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Cllr Chirambo taking part in sweeping in the market

Guest of Honour at the event, Councillor Gertrude Chirambo, stressed the need for all stake holders to take an active part in keeping the City clean and green.

“Everyone must play a role in ensuring that our City is looking clean and beautiful,” said Chirambo.

“This initiative is in line with the City Council’s Keep Blantyre City Clean and Green initiative,” she said.

Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment Charles Chiocha commended the Council for supporting the students.

“We want to be the pacesetters in ensuring that our streets and residential areas are of the highest standards,” said Chiocha.

The sweeping exercise was one the series of events which were organized as part of the final year students’ symposium. The other event was a panel discussion which touched on a few hot topics like the Red star campaign and the Lands Bill.

 

Mayors commit to end AIDS epidemic in cities

More than 30 cities playing a leading role in the AIDS response met in New York, United States of America, on 6th to 7th June, 2016 to discuss ongoing strategies and innovations in their cities that are improving health and development.

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Chalamanda meets Mayor Vitali Klitschko of Kiev City in Ukraine after making his presentation

The meeting was convened by the Mayors of New York, Bill de Blasio, and Paris, Anne Hidalgo, in collaboration with UNAIDS and the Fast-Track cities partners, UN-Habitat and the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), on ending the AIDS epidemic in cities by 2030.

Mayor Noel Chalamanda was in attendance and made a presentation on behalf of people of Blantyre City.

Said Chalamanda: “As the world is fast urbanising, it is clear that the quest to end AIDS will be won or lost in cities. As a city leader, I believe we can end the epidemic in our generation. We owe it to the next generation. Let’s do it.”

Blantyre City is part of the 2014 declaration to end the AIDS epidemic. In signing the 2014 Paris Declaration, the mayors committed to putting their cities on the Fast-Track to ending the AIDS epidemic through a set of commitments.

Those commitments include achieving the UNAIDS 90–90–90 treatment target, which will result in 90% of people living with HIV knowing their HIV status, 90% of people who know their HIV-positive status on antiretroviral treatment and 90% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads.

Since the end of 2014, more than 200 cities around the world have signed the Paris Declaration and are addressing the significant disparities in access to basic services, social justice and economic opportunity towards ending the AIDS epidemic.

Council in urban development management drive

Blantyre City Council in partnership with the Municipal Institute of Learning (MILE) of the eThekwini Municipality is coming up with strategic plan to improve urban infrastructure development.

Genevieve-Hartley
Hartley gives the Deputy Mayor a municipal booklet on urban development management. IMAGE BY CHARITY NG’OMAIKALIRA

Opening the workshop facilitated by MILE, Deputy Mayor Wild Ndipo commended the partnership saying it will improve infrastructure construction in Blantyre city.

Costly Chanza, Director of Town Planning and Estates Services, said the strategic plan will help in areas such as infrastructure development and management of open spaces.

“Blantyre City Council will make sure that people are able to access the land that is better and safer for their living to avoid natural disasters,” said Chanza.

Genevieve Hartley, MILE programme manager said their aim is to capacitate other municipalities in Africa apart from creating, sharing and storing knowledge

“There is need to develop the longer term strategic plan which will help the future generation but also benefit the residents of Blantyre to develop a vision for the city development,” said Hartley.

“We would like to share our challenges and success with the residents of Blantyre and share with them the concept and practical implementation of join learning,” she said.

The partnership between Malawi and MILE will help to establish the areas of need and strength which will help in the development of the City.

BCC, RFA signs financing agreement for Highway street lights

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa on Sunday (22nd May 2016) presided over the signing of a financing agreement between Blantyre City Council and the Roads Fund Administration (RFA).

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Chalamanda and Malata checks hands after signing the agreement witnessed by BCC Chief Executive Dr Alfred Chanza

The K400 million financing agreement is part of road safety programme which the RFA is mandated to finance.

Under the project, the Council is expected to install street lights along the newly upgraded Masauko Chipembere Highway.

Nankhumwa said the signing of the agreement was a testimony of the role RFA was playing in developing the country’s road infrastructure.

Mayor Noel Chalamanda said the Council cannot successfully curb theft and vandalism if the City is in the dark.

“Improved street lighting is widely thought to be an effective means of preventing crime. Indeed, residents in crime-ridden neighborhoods often demand that the lighting be improved and the general expectation is that improved lighting does indeed reduce crime,” said Chalamanda.

RFA Chief Executive Officer Stewart Malata emphasized on the importance of the street lights outlining that they play a key role in creating a conducive and safe environment for the road users at night.

“We would like to appeal that there should be a sustained maintenance program for these street lights. If the council can put in place a proper and proactive maintenance programme for these street lights, the city will be assured of an efficient service,” said Malata.

Under the agreement, RFA is contributing 90 percent of the project amount (K360million) while the Council is contributing K40 million representing 10 percent of the total project cost.

Local Government minister tours projects

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa says a good road network is key to socio-economic development of Blantyre City.

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Nankhumwa inspecting a bridge on Living Waters-Zion road

Nankhumwa was speaking on Saturday, 21 May 2016 when he toured the project sites of the upgraded roads and street lights in the City.

“Government has allocated more funds in the 2016/17 budget towards roads infrastructure development,” said Nankhumwa.

“And Blantyre City stands to benefit as it has shown that it is leading in terms of developing its road infrastructure.”

The Minister however condemned the acts of vandalism which he said derail development.

“We cannot sit back and watch vandalism robe of us of these promising development projects. Guarding against vandalism must start with us residents and government will follow suit with the relevant legislations to curb this problem,” he said.

Mayor Noel Chalamanda also spoke strongly against vandalism urging the Police, Judiciary and residents to team up with the Council in the fight against the vice.

Said Chalamanda; “I urge you fellow residents to report all acts of vandalism to the Police. Vandals are enemies of development and we must root them up so that we create a better Blantyre.”

Later in the day, the Minister presided over the hand-over ceremony of two refuse trucks and an Ambulance.

The Malawi Embassy in Japan sourced the two trucks from Adachi Ward in Tokyo and the ambulance from the Fire Fighters Association of Japan.

First Secretary at the Japanese Embassy Akihiro Mutoh pledged continued support from the people of Japan to the people of Malawi as they are true friends.