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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

The State President Arthur Peter Mutharika on Tuesday (17^th May 2016) opened the 28^th International Trade Fair in Blantyre City.

Mayor Noel Chalamanda was among the dignitaries who attended the opening of the fair being held under the theme “Achieving competitiveness Through Innovations.”

Mutharika said innovation is the best way to go in the world of business today.

“Malawi needs innovation in order to make a difference in business both local and international. If Malawian businesses adopt innovation, they can survive in the international market,” said Mutharika.

President of Malawi Confederation of Chambers and Commerce Industry (MCCCI) Karl Chokotho said 172 companies from Poland, India. Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi are participating in the fair.

Trade Fair is an annual exhibition of goods and services by different companies both local and international. It gives an opportunity to both small and big businesses to showcase and make connections with other businesses.

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bright Msaka says concerted efforts from all stake holders can win the fight against environmental degradation and pollution in Blantyre City.

Msaka was speaking on Tuesday (May10, 2016) when he launched the Integrated Waste Management Project which aims at rehabilitating part of the sewer line in the City.

The Minister stressed the need for the private and public partnerships in making sure that there is proper waste management and disposal.

“We are in this together and my ministry will work hand in hand with all the City councils in abating the problem,” said Msaka.

The Minister also commended Blantyre City Council’s efforts in ensuring cleanliness and compliance with the thin plastic ban.

On his part, Mayor Noel Chalamanda thanked the Minister for considering Blantyre city as the first beneficiary of the Integrated Waste Management Project.

The Mayor said it is the responsibility of everyone to ensure proper waste management and disposal.

Said Chalamanda; “We are facing a lot of challenges in handling this problem and I call on every resident of the city to join us in ensuring a clean and healthy Blantyre.”

Chalamanda added that plans are underway to partner investors who will recycle the waste into profitable products.

The minister toured the Sewer pipes along the Mudi River and Blantyre waste treatment plant at Manase before the official launch of the project at the Civic Centre.

The upgrading of some roads to asphalt surface launched in February this year is expected to be completed within the expected period.

It is expected that the construction works on the six roads—Off Mugabe Highway to Mpingwe (2.08 km), Angelogoveya to Manje (4.160 km), Living Waters to Zion (2.045 km), Chilomoni Ring Road (3.570 km) and Chimseu to Magalasi (0.936 km), Landrover Chilimba to Level crossing in Magalasi (1.247 km) roads—will last 180 days.

Director of Engineering Services Grant Sichali expressed this optimism during a site meeting at one of the projects.

“There is good progress on the construction and they are expected to meet the construction time,” said Sichali.

“Currently, we are half way down the construction period but the work on the ground shows that they are going to meet the deadline,” he said.

In fact, Sichali said the Chinseu to Magalasi road is at an advanced stage that the contractor is set to beat the deadline.

“So far, there are no major challenges being faced in the construction works,” he said.

Government through Roads Authority provided K1.8 billion to the council for development and apart from the six roads, part of the money has been used to rehabilitate street lights.

Blantyre City Council joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Earth Day which falls on 22^nd of April which this year is being observed the theme Trees for earth.

The aim of the day is to bring attention to environmental issues to spark changes that will result in a healthy, sustainable environment. This includes addressing climate change and finding ways to protect the planet for future generations.

BCC through the Keep Blantyre Clean and Green Initiative is promoting the planting of trees in order to save our communities from the dangers of climate change and also taking part in saving the world too.

The world is currently losing 15 billion trees each year due to deforestation, land developments and bad forest management among others as such the earth needs more trees to be replanted.

BCC supports Trees for Earth plan to plant 7.8 billion trees by 50th Earth Day in 2020. That is one tree for every person on the planet.

The pictures show the Council leading by example by maintaining a green environment at Civic Centre.