News

The Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts (BEFFTA) on October, 31, 2015 presented Namalimwe Ward Councilor Gertrude Chirambo with the Leadership Award.

Chirambo says she feels greatly humbled with the award which recognizes her “outstanding contribution to the society.”

The event organisers say the world has admired Chirambo’s achievements and it has seen that she is “a great inspiration to many young people.”

The BEFFRA Awards is Europe’s biggest and most prestigious award ceremony that celebrates the achievements of black and ethnic personalities in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Africa and the Caribbean in entertainment, film, fashion, television, arts, sports and leadership.

Blantyre City Council congratulates Councilor Chirambo for this milestone.

Limbe Central Ward Councillor Nellie Nseula has become the first female councilor to head a council committee after her election to chair the Education committee.

Education is one of the directorates under the Blantyre City Council headed by the District Education Manager.

Nseula, one of the five female councilors in the Council, will be deputized by Chilomoni Ward Councillor Phillip Litchowa Kameta.

Immediately after elections, the committee received a report from the Director of Education Services Evelyn Mjima who looks after educational facilities in the City.

Soche West Ward Councillor George Chipwete has been re-elected Finance Committee chairman while Councillor Stanley Kamphambali Banda of Mzedi Ward was elected chairman for Human Resources Committee.

Kamphambali Banda replaced Peter Kajiya of Michiru Ward and he is deputized by Namiyango Ward Councillor Raphael Mzimu.

Chipwete has won the hearts of his fellow councilors because of his deep understanding of financial issues.

He has ably guided the Council on financial matters for the past one year while Kamphambali Banda will guide the Council on human resources issues for the next one year.

Immediately after elections, the two committees received reports from the Director of Financial Services Michael Kasamba (Finance Committee) and Acting Director of Administrative Services who is also Human Resources Manager Alfred Nyengo (Human Resources Committee).

Who will be crowned Miss Blantyre 2015? Who will be Keep Blantyre Clean and Green Ambassador?

Mayor Noel Chalamanda on Wednesday hosted Miss Blantyre 2015 Corporate Night at Protea Ryalls Hotel where he outlined the Council’s vision for the development of the youth.

“The youth are not leaders of tomorrow but leaders of today that is why the Blantyre City Council in partnership with BizMalawi is reaching the youth through the activities that the youth are committed to and we will keep supporting the youth,” said Chalamanda.

Beyond Beauty is the theme of Miss Blantyre 2015. The organizing chairperson Daniel Ngwira said this year’s pageant is looking at more than just looks of a person.

Members of the Works Committee on Tuesday unanimously elected Councillor Joseph Makwinja of Bangwe Ward as their chairperson deputized by Councillor Leonard Chibade of Nyambadwe Ward.

The 20-member-committee was holding its first meeting following the dissolution of the former committee which was also chaired by Makwinja. The Council Committee term is one year.

Makwinja said he was overjoyed by the confidence fellow councillors had demonstrated by giving him a second term of office.

“I am very happy for trusting me with a second term. I know the elections were free and fair and I promise to work hard for the benefit of the City of Blantyre,” said Makwinja.

After elections, the committee received a report from the Director of Engineering Services Grant Sichinga in which he gave progress status on various works being undertaken by the Council.

Among the works reported were grading of roads, procurement of road construction machinery, fixing of street lights and flood lights in townships among other developments in the City.

The Works Committee provides an oversight role on development projects undertaken by the Council.

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Atupele Muluzi led the country in the commemoration of World Habitat Day 2015 under the theme Public Spaces for All.

The event which started with a solidarity march from Blantyre Civic Centre to city centre, drew participants from Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu City Councils led by their Mayors.

Muluzi encouraged councils to utilize Public spaces in their urban centres for the benefit of the residents.

Hosting Mayor Noel Chalamanda said streets and public spaces have often been overlooked and undervalued although they are increasingly being considered as the backbone of the cities.

“Public spaces are places which are accessible and enjoyable by all without a profit motive and take on various spatial forms, including parks, streets, sidewalks, road reserves, markets, parkades, water parks and playgrounds just to mention a few,” said Chalamanda.

He added: “The character of a city is defined by its streets and public spaces. From city squares to neighbourhood gardens and children playgrounds, public space frames city image. The layout plans of streets, green spaces, water parks and public spaces forms the bedrock of the city upon which everything else rests.”

“Well designed and managed public space is a key asset for a city’s functioning and has a positive impact on its economy, environment, safety, health, integration and connectivity,” he said

The Mayor said many cities are developing policies that promote compact, livable areas, with adequate public space that facilitate public transport, encourages walking and cycling in order to reduce carbon emissions.

“Public space is critical for environmental sustainability. Green and open public space brings many important environmental benefits such as, the cooling of air and the absorption of atmospheric pollutants,” he said.

The Mayors from the four cities also conducted a debate broadcast live on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Television channel and Zodiak Broadcasting Station on the same theme of Public Spaces for All.

The Council on Monday signed a City Beautification Agreement with HTD Motors which is adopting the roundabout in front of its premises at Ginnery Corner near Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.

It was a momentous occasion when the Blantyre City Council Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Alfred Chanza and the HTD Managing Director signed the Memorandum of Understanding which stipulates partnership conditions.

“We are happy that today we have signed this agreement and it is our wish that you immediately start working on the roundabout,” said Chanza.

HTD Motors has pledged to make the site one of the most beautiful roundabouts in the City with water feature and evergreen gardens.

Blantyre City Council on Saturday signed an Aide-Memoire marking the beginning of a process of establishing Sister City relationship with Nanchang City of China.

The signing ceremony, graced by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nankhumwa, took place at Civic Centre in Blantyre.

Mayor Noel Chalamanda signed on behalf of Blantyre City while Zhou Guan, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference of Nanchang chairperson, signed on behalf of Nanchang City.

The signing of the pact was in recognition by the two cities of a need for special relationship based on mutual respect and also a wish to solidify the commitment to each other.

Blantyre City Council reaffirmed its appreciation of the magnificient Chinese investment in city which has greatly enriched all areas of development including; economy, culture, technology and academia.

The two cities have agreed to foster mutual understanding, exchanges, promotion and cooperation in the development in economy and trade, education, culture and other fields of cooperation and communication.

Blantyre and Nanchang have also agreed to exchange visits, promote and cooperate in business enterprises and eventually to sign the agreement to establish friendly relations between them.

“We will encourage the involvement of individuals, businesses and institutions in our twinning relationship to develop a spirit of cooperation and create strong bonds of friendship,” reads part of the aide-memoire.

Before the signing of the pact, Blantyre City Council on Friday took the six member delegation on a tour of the City showing them Chirimba, Likhubula, Mbayani and also the city centre before a visit to Amitofo Care Centre.

On Saturday, immediately after the signing ceremony, the Mayor accompanied the delegation to Mangochi for the visitors to have a feel of Lake Malawi and a taste of fresh Chambo fish.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015 marked a turning point in the history of public transportation in Malawi following the launch of more luxurious and state-of-the-art Super Coaches by AXA Bus Services.
Mayor of Blantyre City Noel Chalamanda said the Super Coaches and custom-designed departure lounges will tremendously contribute to the improvement of road passenger services in the country.

“There can be no doubt that the transportation sector is the most critical sector of our economy and its positive impact on our social economic life cannot be overemphasised,” said Chalamanda.
“The reality about transportation is that its future oriented. If we were planning for what we have, we are behind the curve,” he added.
He was all praises for the chairman of AGMA Holdings Limited, Mark Katsonga-Phiri, owners of AXA Bus Services, for venturing into the road passenger transport service, a sector that most Malawian companies were sceptical some nine years ago.

“I cannot help to imagine if Mr Katsonga-Phiri had not thought of setting up through humble beginnings, AXA Coach and Bus Company; a company we all are proud to be associated with today,” he said.
Katsonga-Phiri said with the support from several Banks, his company has strived and the acquisition of five buses was part of the modernisation drive and promised to add more to the fleet.

The new buses have as an additional feature USB ports for charging electric gadgets such as mobile phones and laptops.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Kondwani Nakhumwa has commended Blantyre City Council saying it was on the right track in municipal management.

Nankhumwa was speaking when he visited the Council where among other activities he inspected the Masauko Chipembere Highway reconstruction under the Phase III of Japanese aided project.

“Let me say that Blantyre City Council is a shining example of well managed Councils in Malawi under the leadership of His Worship Cllr Noel Chalamanda and the Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr [Alfred] Chanza,” said the Minister.

Nankhumwa, who was accompanied by the Secretary for Local Government and Rural Development Chris Kang’ombe and Director of Local Government Services Kiswell Dakamau, walked with the Mayor and other dignitaries from Yiannakis Roundabout to Illovo Roundabout where the Phase III project is ending.

The road, which was expected to be completed by November 30, 2015, will be opened to normal traffic flow on October 20, this year.

Nankhumwa also toured Limbe market where he emphasized that government was worried with the market fires that have destroyed a number of such facilities with recent ones being Kasungu, Area 18 and Kamuzu road markets in Salima.

He said there was a need to promote construction of fire proof markets to avert this problem while also noting that Insurance companies cannot provide insurance services to markets that are vulnerable to fire.

In the afternoon, the Minister officially received a fire engine which was handed over by the Japanese Embassy First Secretary Kohei Sakamoto on behalf of Japan Fire Fighters Association.

During the ceremony, the Mayor lamented the state of fire engines in the Council saying in some cases, expected execution of duties during emergencies has been compromised due to breakdowns of vehicles.

Said Chalamanda; “For the past 12 months, the position of fire fighting vehicles in the city Council of Blantyre had been very pathetic and it was on several occasions, very difficult to cope with emergency situations.”

“This was due to frequent breakdown of our old vehicles whose spares are obsolete. With this donation Sir, we are now in a position to provide at least proper fire cover,” he said.

Japan Fire Fighters Association has so far donated four fire engines to Blantyre City Council since 2011.