News

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.

Blantyre City Council is pleased to inform the public that some developers whose structures were marked with a red star have started demolition.

This has happened as the period for voluntary demolition of dilapidated buildings is coming to an end on 29th February 2016.
The Council is urging those that have not taken action to do so immediately.
The Council is also appealing to developers that have drawn action plans to bring them forward for a roundtable discussion. Red Star will be implemented without failure.

Mayor Noel Chalamanda and his deputy Wild Ndipo have embarked on tour of Wards in Blantyre City as one way of interacting with residents and appreciating the challenges they are facing.

“We are all leaders and for all of us to make Blantyre a better place to live, we need to work together and share ideas,” said Chalamanda.
“As our Motto states that, ‘taking the City back to the people’, we want our residents to own the City,” he said.
On his part, Ndipo said; “Residents are given a chance to voice out different problems that the ward is facing, possible solutions to the problems and share the success stories of the ward.”
Chalamanda has promised the residents that the Council will look into the challenges and possible actions will be taken.
The Mayor and his deputy have already toured to the following Wards; Green Corner, Chigumula, Blantyre South, Nkolokoti and Namiyango

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nakhumwa on Tuesday launched the K1.8 billion City Roads Upgrading Project in Blantyre City.

Nankhumwa said when people talk about development in cities, one of the things that count most is the road network.
“Roads in our Cities and Districts across the country are very vital because we cannot talk about development in our country in the absence of good roads,” said Nankhumwa.
“So we are glad that some of the roads in Blantyre are being upgraded,” he said.
The Minister warned people against vandalising public facilities saying the long arm of the law would catch up with those involved in the criminal act.
“Let me send a very strong warning to people who vandalise public facilities. This is one of the major challenges facing our Cities. I wish to appeal to all to restrain from putting all these resources that have contributed significantly to the transformation of Blantyre City to waste.
“The long arm of the law will catch up with you and I pray that our courts mete stiff penalties on vandals to deter others from indulging in the same criminal acts,” he warned.
Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamanda said the Council selected to upgrade roads that would have positive impact in the City and not only a particular area.
“We did all this with guidance from the secretariat. The idea was that we should for a minute forget the demarcations that divide the City in Wards o Constituencies and think about all residents as beneficiaries of these funds,” said Chalamanda.
“Honourable Minister, may you convey our appreciation to His Excellency the State President, Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika for this support. We are grateful to his government and our pledge is to use the funds prudently and for the benefit of the people of Blantyre City,” he said.
The roads that would be upgraded under the project are 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.
Part of the K1.8 billion has gone into rehabilitation of street lights on Kandodo Cornershop to Kameza via Mbayani, Chirimba road, CI to Green Corner road, Kwacha roundabout via MBC TV to Kudya area and Sunnyside to Manyowe road.

Blantyre City Council has signed contracts with three contractors to upgrade Angelogoveya to Manje road, Living Waters to Zion road and Chilomoni Ring Road to asphalt surfacing using K1.8 billion from government.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa is expected to officially launch the project on Tuesday at Angelo Goveya.

HEMA Construction has been awarded Angelo Goveya to Manje road (4.160 km), Eistern Construction will be upgrading the Living Waters to Zion (2.045 km) while Fargo Civil Engineering have Chilomoni Ring Road (3.570 km).

Apart from the three roads, the Council has already identified contractors to upgrade Off Mugabe Highway to Mpingwe, Chimseu to Magalasi and Landrover Chilimba to Level crossing in Magalasi. A total of at least 1..05 Kms of the City road network will be upgraded.

Using the same funds, the Council is also rehabilitating street lights along Kandodo Cornershop to Kameza via Mbayani, Kwacha roundabout to Kudya, CI to Greencorner and Sunnyside to Manyowe Township.

The Red Star Campaign committee chaired by the Deputy Mayor Wild Ndipo on Tuesday resolved to vacate the court order which 54 developers obtained restraining the Council from demolishing their structures.

During an emergency meeting, the committee was informed that the lawyer representing the 54 had written the Council asking for extension of the notice period for the developers to start acting on the demolition recommendation.

However, the committee observed that as much as there was no problem in granting the developers audience to discuss the request, it was important for the Council’s legal team to act on the court order first.

It was also resolved that the arrangement to grant audience to developers should be extended to all over 160 building owners whose structures were recommended for action.

Apart from demolition, other buildings are expected to be maintained while others only need to be painted.

The deadline for building owners to voluntarily demolish their structures is February 29, 2016 and the committee resolved to reconvene immediately the court rules on its application to vacate the injunction.