Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to right sidebar Skip to footer

News

Sanitation project taking shape

The Sanitation Service Level Agreement (SSLA) project which aims at improving the availability of public toilets in the City of Blantyre is now taking shape.

Wes-Waste

The WASTE facilitated SSLA project is co-funded by Blantyre City Council, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Department for International Development (DfID) of the British government.

“The objective of the project is to improve access to sanitation services across the unsewered areas of Blantyre City,” says Joseph DeGabriele, WASTE country director.

It focus on three areas of service delivery to improve the management of faecal sludge namely improved access to clean public toilets throughout the city, improved access to safe and efficient desludging of toilets in unsewered areas and improved access to faecal sludge treatment.

“As far as possible, these services have to be carried out under the partnership between BCC and the private sector. The role of BCC would be to ensure that the services are delivered to a good standard throughout the city while the private sector actually delivers the services,” says DeGabriele.

He adds; “For this to take place, there needs to be good contractual agreements that ensure quality service delivery and those investments by the private sector are encouraged and protected.”

Mayor Noel Chalamanda said the Council was grateful to have received such a prestigious grant worth such amount from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Mayor appealed to different stakeholders including residents and the business community to come forward to participate through investments.

Said Chalamanda; “It is our hope that the implementation of this project, which will increase sanitation facilities, will help all of us to change our attitudes and mindsets especially when it comes to use and protection of public facilities.”

At the moment, the project implementers are working on calling for expression of interest to solicit applications from qualified private sector operators interested in investing and managing public toilets within Blantyre City.

It is expected that under the $2,638,272 (about K1.1 billion) three-year project, rehabilitation and construction works will be one and the city will end up having at least 100 functional public toilets.

The picture shows project partners discussing bid documents and proposed sites for public toilets The picture shows project partners discussing bid documents and proposed sites for public toilets The picture shows project partners discussing bid documents and proposed sites for public toilets.

The picture above shows project partners discussing the bid documents and brainstorming on the proposed sites for public toilets

Chambo Fisheries partner with Council in City beautification

Chambo Fisheries has officially adopted Midima roundabout in Limbe following the signing of City beautification agreement between Blantyre City Council and the company on Tuesday.

Chief-and-Ishmail

Chambo Fisheries says it is pleased to be given a chance to participate in the beautification of the City. Among other features, the company intends to erect a fountain and make the roundabout attractive for family visits.

The Council’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Alfred Chanza said it was pleasing that the corporate world was coming forward to partner with the Council.

Council meets big buses operators

The Blantyre City Council on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 met officials from the Big Bus Association. The meeting was centred on finding a common position on how to deal with disorder at Wenela Bus depot and also other spots where buses illegally load and offload passengers. The amicable discussion which lasted for more than two hours, agreed that the operators will continue using the outside of Wenela Depot until such a time when the Council will give a direction on the status of the depot. Among members of the association was its chairperson businessman Yusuf Matumula. Acting Director of Town Planning and Estates Services Mathews Mwadzaangati assured the operators of the Council’s commitment to ensure that it provides conducive environment to the residents to do business and prosper.

Council urges residents to use flyovers

The Council has noted with regret the shunning of flyovers by pedestrians which puts their lives at danger.

One of the flyovers in the City

The Council erected a number of flyovers in the City especially at accidents prone spots. However, the utilization of the facilities has not been impressive.

“We are not impressed with the way people use all the flyovers in the City,” says the Council’s Public Relations Manager Anthony Kasunda

“We urge people to make full use of the flyovers. Parents should sensitize their children on the importance of using the flyovers as it is mostly school kids that are hit by vehicles under these structures,” he says.

He says plans are there to build a hand rail around some flyovers especially the Ginnery Corner one so that everyone will be forced to use the facility.

  • August 14, 2015 in News

Mayor receives donation of desks

Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamanda on Tuesday received a donation of 56 desks from Claude Bandawe, a Malawian resident in the United Kingdom on behalf of Chilomoni LEA School.

Mayor-in-class

Chalamanda, who is also the Council for the ward, said he will work with the Member of Parliament for the Constituency; Tarsizius Gowelo to ensure the school has necessary facilities.

For example, the school which was established in the 1960s, has no electricity and security fence.

School authorities said lack of electricity and security fence is impacting negatively as the institution has several times been attacked by robberies.

The Mayor thanked the donor, Mr Bandawe for remembering where he is coming from despite living very far away from Malawi.

“We do not have to be rich to give but the heart of giving is very important. The only way we can show appreciation to Mr Bandawe is by taking care of the desks,” he said.

PTA chairperson Mr Kayiya said in this modern world, there was need for the school to have computers.

George Bandawe, brother to the donor, said the issue of computers in this era cannot be ignored and pledged to speak to his brother for consideration.

Mr Bandawe and his associates have donated the desks for the third time to the school. In 2013, they presented 55 desks and in 2014, a total of 70 desks were also donated.

Council introduces Magazine

The Blantyre City Council has introduced a Magazine to provide a platform to members of the public especially Blantyre City residents to interact with the Council.

IMG_0120

Due to the nature of services which the Council offers both to the local and international clients, it has become necessary to come up with a magazine which will be distributed beyond the boundaries of the City.

This magazine will not only offer an interaction opportunity but also introduce some of the services the Council provides which may be of interest to the public.

Through the Council’s mission statement, it is envisaged becoming the best managed and accountable Council, responsive to the needs of the residents through the provision of efficient and effective services through participatory approaches and sustainable use of resources.

It is in line with the magazine objectives that the Council strives to increase communication to the public in order to enhance effective dissemination of messages about the Council operations.

Fire fighting training courses on the cards

Blantyre City Council has lined up fire fighting training courses for companies and other services providers to run from November 9 to December 4 this year at Civic offices.

Fire fighting training participants from markets

In press statement, the Council’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Alfred Chanza says the courses target several sectors and will run for three days.

Says Chanza: “Blantyre City Council Fire and Rescue Service will be conducting first aid fire fighting training courses from 9th November 2015 to 4th December 2015.”

“These extremely popular three-day long courses provide participants with a greater awareness and understanding of the threat posed by fire, their personal responsibility in preventing an outbreak and the action to be taken should a fire occur,” he says.

He adds: “The course is presented by experienced City Council Fire Brigade professionals and all participants receive practical hands-on training in basic firefighting techniques as well as interactive training in risks assessment and mitigation.”

Chanza says institutions are advised to choose a relevant course or courses and send the number and names of their nominated participants for each course and that each participant is expected to pay in advance K95 000 per course for three days.

“The courses target all staff, particularly those designated as fire wardens or marshals or any safety officer working in industries, commerce or the public sector institutions,” he says.

Participants are expected to develop confidence in carrying out fire safety responsibilities, have greater awareness of the hazards of fire, acquire knowledge of the combustion process and how fire is spread, have an understanding of what actions to take in the event of fire.

They are also expected to get knowledge of the different types of extinguishers, their uses and the hazards associated with them and have the ability to carry out routine fire safety maintenance checks to comply with relevant legislation apart from tackling small fires with confidence.

The course content will be as follows:

  • Combustion principles
  • Portable fire extinguishers
  • Classes and common cause of fire
  • Good housekeeping
  • Fire risk assessment
  • The roles of Fire Safety Manager and Fire Wardens
  • How to spot and mitigate hazards.
  • Liquefied Petroleum Gases and Acetylene cylinder incidents
  • Motor vehicle fires
  • Fire extinguishment practical
  • Arson preventive measures
  • Highly Flammable Liquids (HFL) liquefied Petroleum Gases regulations
  • Fire drill procedures in offices, shops, warehouses, colleges/schools, hotels, hospitals, factories and boarding places and others.

The courses are scheduled as follows:

Course One       :                First Aid Firefighting Training for Shops, Offices, Media, Banks, Colleges, Schools and Security services from 9th November to 11th November 2015.

Course Two       :                First Aid Firefighting Training for Oil installation, Filling Stations and Garages/Workshops from 16th November to 18th November 2015

Course Three     :                 First Aid Firefighting Training for Factories and Warehouses from 23rd November to 25th November 2015.

Course Four       :                 First Aid Firefighting Training for Hotels/Motels/Lodges, Hospitals and Restaurants from 2nd December to 4th December 2015.

For more information, contact Numbers: 0994 441 964/0881 789 366/0884 432 503

Council welcomes intern

The Council is pleased to welcome Chippo Chimwaza on internship in the public relations office. Chimwaza brings her experience as a radio journalist after working for Matindi, Star and Adventist radio stations. Asked what her aspirations in life are, Chimwaza said: “I have always wanted to do PR. I want to be a Public Relations person. So I am glad that I have been given this opportunity and look forward to gaining experience.” She comes immediately after other ladies, Angella Phiri and Esnath Samson, who had been on internship for the past seven months bade the Council farewell.

Councils members oriented on local government system

Blantyre City Council members and senior staff from the secretariat have been oriented on the Local government system in Malawi Guidebook.

The orientation was conducted by Malawi Local Government Association, National Local Government Finance Committee and Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

Among other issues, the Council members and secretariat would be oriented on guide for conduct of council business, budgeting and financial management in local authorities, development planning systems and integrity in Councils

The two day orientation workshop was opened by Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamba who welcomed the session saying it was better late than never.

Said Chalamanda: “We wish this orientation was conducted at the beginning of our term of office. Nevertheless, this orientation will impart very important knowledge to us Council members on how to conduct business in a manner to serve our city well.”

In attendance were Councillors, Members of Parliament and Blantyre City Council management team.

  • August 4, 2015 in News

Council bids farewell to Polytechnic interns

Blantyre City Council on Friday bade farewell to two journalism students from Polytechnic, Angella Phiri and Esnath Samson, who were on internship for the past seven months.

Phiri and Samson were attached to the public relations office.

The two, in their remarks, expressed gratitude for the knowledge and experience acquired from the Council during the stay.

“We would also like to thank Blantyre City Council for extending our internship period,” said Phiri. “At first we were supposed to be here for three months but when we requested for an extension you considered us, we do not take it for granted, thank you.”

“Now it has been seven months since we joined the council and now that it is time for us to go back to school, we are leaving with both tears and smiles. We have tears because it is really sad that we are departing from you wonderful people and smiles because the friendships we have made with everyone here will be a memory and treasure of our stay,” she said.

She added; “As we go back to school, we will take with us all that we have learnt here and it is our hope that [after graduating] we find full time employment with a competent institution like Blantyre City Council.”

Blantyre City Council is wishing the two, Angella Phiri and Esnath Samson, the best of luck in their studies and thereafter.

  • August 4, 2015 in News