News

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.

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.