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It’s a done deal. Rab Processors Limited has partnered Blantyre City Council in the city beautification initiative by adopting the Independence Arch and its gardens.

On Monday (April 11, 2016), the company signed an agreement with the Council marking the beginning of the partnership which will see Rab taking care of the Independence Arch and its surrounding.

Signing on behalf of the Council, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Alfred Chanza said togetherness is the only way of recreating the City

“We desire to have a beautiful city, as such partnerships such as this one, are encouraged in order to make our city beautiful,” said Chanza.

Deputy Managing Director for Rab Group of Companies Ahmed Sunka appreciated the work that the Council was doing in transforming Blantyre City.

“Truth should be told, BCC is doing a remarkable job in taking care of the Blantyre City and supporting this work is the only way of appreciating the job well done,” said Sunka.

The Council understands and appreciates the legal instruments that protect monumental structures such as the Independence Arch and its responsibility in the preservation of Malawi’s heritage and in particular those found in Blantyre City.

This is why the agreement with Rab Processors Limited has a clause that stipulates what the company is expected to do on the site and it reads:

“With guidance from the Department of Antiquities and in consultation with the Council’s Director of Engineering Services, rehabilitating the Independence Arch. This will be limited to acid washing of the Arch, painting the underside, replacing the flagpoles and the Spears. The emblem will be provided by the Department of Antiquities.”

Remember to always Keep Blantyre Clean and Green.

Director of Town Planning and Estates Services Costly Chanza is in Barcelona, Spain attending the Habitat III Thematic Meeting on Public Spaces.

Chanza is one of the key speakers and also presenting a paper on urban management of open spaces ‘A New Urban Agenda for Combating Inequalities: Claiming for Public Spaces and a City for All.’

Dr. Joan Clos, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, says the meeting aims at encouraging the exchange of views and experiences in Sustainable Urban Development acknowledging the common challenges and the need to agree on an approach that will propel the topic of public spaces to set the New Urban Agenda at the Habitat III Conference.

“The aim of this meeting is to focus discussion on policies and strategies to make cities and territories more equitable, inclusive and sustainable places,” says Clos.

“The Habitat III Thematic Meeting presents an opportunity to gather different participants to identify inputs in the topic of public space that will result in the format of a final declaration considered official contributions to the Habitat III process,” he adds.

The meeting, focusing its discussion on policies and strategies to make cities and territories more equitable, inclusive and sustainable places, is taking place on 4^th and 5^th April 2016

Deputy Mayor Councillor Wild Ndipo on Wednesday (March 30, 2016) advised the City residents to continue supporting the Council’s development plans.

Ndipo, speaking when he presided over the Development Budget Participatory Conference for 2016-17 financial year, stressed the need for the public participation in the planning and execution of developments in the City.

“I appeal for your support in all the developmental projects and campaigns that the Council is undertaking,” said Ndipo. “I urge you to ensure that all public facilities are protected and well taken care of.”

The Deputy Mayor also commended the corporate world for the support they are rendering to the Council in its greening and cleaning campaigns.

Finance Committee chairman Councillor George Chipwete said the Council has planned a number of projects in the 2016-17 budget that will help in transforming the City.

He said most projects in the coming year will focus on new areas that will uplift Blantyre to reach the standards of a modern city.

“We must avoid vandalism to ensure that future projects should focus on new areas not renovating the same roads and schools each and every year,” said Chipwete.

The 2016-17 budget focuses on renovating and planting new street lights as well as maintaining schools, roads and bridges among other projects.

Mayor Noel Chalamanda on Wednesday (March23, 2016) received 10 waste bins from Toyota Malawi as the company’s contributions towards the Clean Blantyre initiative.

Chalamanda, in a company of his deputy Wild Ndipo and health and social Services committee chairperson Councillor Evance Taulo, thanked Toyota Malawi for the good gesture demonstrated towards the City residents.

“This is an assurance that Toyota Malawi does not only care for those who buy cars but also cares for Blantyre City residents. Blantyre City Council will walk with Toyota Malawi in ensuring that Blantyre City residents live in a clean and green environment,” said Chalamanda.

Toyota Malawi Managing Director Arvinder Reel said his company is part of the community with a role in caring for the environment.

“Toyota Malawi has at heart about the well-being of Blantyre City residents as such promoting the Green and Clean campaign is the only way to show our responsibility in taking care of the residents,” said Reel.

Toyota Malawi purchased 20 bins at a cost of K2.5 million. The other 10 have been donated to Lilongwe City.

Government has appointed Dr Alfred Chanza as the Chief Executive Officer for Blantyre City Council with immediate effect.

Chanza replaces Ted Nandolo, whose suspension was lifted and has been redeployed to the Malawi Gaming Board as one of the directors.

“The onus is now on me to show what I am capable of doing for the city as well as the government. But above all, I thank God for this. Surely, the appointment did not just come,” said Chanza, former PS II at the Labour Ministry.

Chanza holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Commerce (industrial psychology) and a Master of Arts degree in Labour Relations and Human Resources, among other academic qualifications.

Before his appointment, he has been acting CEO for close to one year and he also served as Director of Administrative Services between 2006 and 2014.

Meanwhile, the Mayor Councillor Noel Chalamanda and all councilors, management and staff of the Council has welcomed and congratulated him on this appointment.

Namiyango disaster victims were on Tuesday all smiles following a donation of relief items from the department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA).

Deputy Mayor Wild Ndipo presented the items which included maize, beans, sugar, salt and plastic paper to at least 78 families affected by the storm that hit the City a month ago.

“As the City fathers, it is our responsible to make sure that our residents are safe and we make sure that whenever there is a problem, we find a way to solve the problem,’ said Ndipo in the company of the Mayor Councillr Noel Chalamanda.

Ndipo gave credit to government for quickly responding to the request from the Council after the disaster had affected the families in Namiyango Ward.

Zione Chibwana, one of the beneficiaries expressed her gratitude over the donation.

“The donation has been made at the right time since we were finding it hard as our houses and crops were destroyed,” said Zione.

At least 75 bags of Maize, eight bags of beans, eight bales of plastic papers, 75 packets of sugar and two bails of salt were donated.

Ward Councillor, Raphael Mzimu, appealed for more assistance from well wishers saying the families lost property as well as crops in their gardes.

Deputy Mayor Wild Ndipo on Tuesday (March 15, 2016) launched the distribution of shoes to needy pupils which were donated by pupils from the privileged private schools under the Mayor’s Festive Shoesday Tuesday Initiative.

The Council implemented the initiative in partnership with eventsPlus Limited, a privately owned company that offered free services as a social corporate responsibility.

Speaking at Mbayani Primary School, Ndipo commended the generosity the students from the privileged schools and Bata Shoe Company demonstrated in donating thousands of pairs of shoes to the less privileged.

“The donations will go a long way in alleviating the suffering of the less privileged children who endure bad weather walking to school barefoot,” said Ndipo.

The deputy mayor added that it is good to teach children the habit of sharing because they will grow up good citizens who will help others in time of need.

Head Teacher for Mbayani Primary School, Beyadi Sailesi, thanked the Mayor for the initiative on behalf of all recipients, saying the shoes will motivate pupils to work hard in class.

Cathie Mukadiwa Matura of eventsPlus Limited said the idea to come up with the initiative was hatched after recognizing the challenges less privileged students face.

The distributed items, which included pairs of shoes, clothes, exercise books and soap (bathing and washing) were collected last year from Nyasa Junior Academy, SouthEnd Primary School, SouthEnd Secondary School, Hillview School, St Andrews International Primary school and St Andrews International High School, Phoenix School, Central High School, Blantyre Baptist Academy, Kalibu Academy, Bata Shoe Company and Candlex Limited

The items have been distributed to all the 23 wards in the City.

Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamanda on Friday, March 4, 2016 led the Nedbank, Old Mutual and Council partnership in a tree planting exercise at Nyambadwe hill.

Chalamanda, who was accompanied by Nyambadwe Ward Councillor Leonard Chibade, commended Nedbank and Old Mutual for taking part in the tree planting exercise which is in line with the “Keep Blantyre Clean and Green campaign.”

The Mayor urged residents of Nyambadwe ward to conserve and protect the trees to ensure a high survival rate.

“It will be pointless planting these trees to hear that they are not being taken care of a year later,” said Chalamanda. “I would like to encourage us to protect these trees.”

Chalamanda added that by planting trees the community is investing in the future and also warned those farming on the hill to stop because it is against the city’s by-laws.

He said: “Our children will be proud of us 20 years from now because of the trees we are planting today. By planting trees we are investing for them to enjoy a green Blantyre.”

Nyambadwe Ward Councillor Leonard Chibade said the community would establish a taskforce to protect the trees in the area and also to stop farming on the hill.

He also thanked Nedbank and Old Mutual for considering Nyambadwe hill for the tree planting exercise.

Old Mutual Chief Executive Officer Edith Jiya and Nedbank Managing Director Paul Guta committed their companies’ continuous support towards the Council’s greening initiative.

The tree planting exercise was also graced by Miss Blantyre Chisomo Machelo, who is the Keep Blantyre City Clean and Green initiative Ambassador.

President Arthur Peter Mutharika on Saturday opened upgraded Masauko Chipembere Highway with a promise of more developments in the city he said is dear to his heart.

Mutharika says a good road infrastructure is crucial in the socio-economic development of any country and that the highway connects to many districts hence it will facilitate movement of goods and services.

“Economically, this is one of the most important roads of Blantyre,” said Mutharika

“We decided to upgrade this road to set new standards. This is our signature; this is our style. This is the way the DPP government wants to do things,” he said.

The President advised road users to take good care of the Highway and asked both the community and police to make sure there is no vandalism of the road infrastructure.

“Let us keep our roads like treasure for the next generation. We want to make life comfortable. We want to make driving and travelling more comfortable. We have upgraded this road to reduce congestion and ease smooth flow of traffic,” said Mutharika.

”The last stretch beyond this Highway connecting the roundabout at Illovo and the Midima Roundabout is about to be upgraded. Not long from now, there will be bypasses round the City of Blantyre to decongest traffic,” he said.

Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamanda thanked government for facilitating the upgrading of the highway from two to four lane road.

He said the development has eased movement of people and services between Limbe and Blantyre which was a nightmare.

Said Chalamanda: “It is through such infrastructural projects that Blantyre will beat again. Will be alive and great again. They say a great nation needs great cities. Great cities thrive in a great nation. It is symbiotic. We look up to you Your Excellency for your usual and unwavering support.”

Masauko Chipembere Highway has been upgraded with financial assistance from the Japanese government to the tune of K12 billion.

Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamanda on February 18, 2016 officially opened Kris Star Lodge located in Namiwawa residential area.

Chalamanda said he was confident that the City has a lot of people with the capacity to develop innovate solutions not only for business purposes but for the greater good of the society.

“A successful entrepreneur must be confident and should never, never retreat or give up at the first sign of difficulty,” said Chalamanda.

Director of Tourism, Patricia Liabuba said Kris Star Lodge is one of the high quality lodges in Blantyre.

“Let us support the directors of this lodge and make sure that this facility is known to all people and Blantyre will be a tourist centre,” said Liabuba

Kris Star Lodge owner Masauko Msungama said he was happy to have created employment opportunity for 51 Malawians so far.

“The lodge has a conference room fitted with high tech equipment, restaurant and bar, swimming pool and rooms for accommodation,” said Msungama.