Malawi leader President Dr Lazarus Chakwera on Saturday hailed the people of TA Mnyanja for their dedication towards social, development and political enhancement of their area.
Addressing a mammoth crowd at Chatoloma Trading Centre in Kasungu North North East (KUNNE) Constituency, while on his way from the northern region, Chakwera commended the people in the area for embracing the Mega Farm project under the Community Development Initiative (CDI) project.
The President said what the people of Mnyanja have done is good for the economic development, not only of their area, but also the country stating that there were other areas where Chiefs did not accept the the project out of lack of understanding its enormous benefits to individual households and their community. The President said he had been kept abreast of developments on the project by Her Excellency, Former President Joyce Banda, who shared some impressive pictures of the beautiful crop raised at the Mega Farm in Mnyanja. Furthermore, the President hinted that this is a big project that will, in future, produce and sell high value fruits to the world. At this juncture the Malawi leader commended the people for working together emphasizing what one person can do a team will always do better. The President told the people that he knows the project will benefit “our children and our children’s children.
The President has since assured people of Mnyanja of employment through construction works currently underway at the M1 Road. The contractor has been advised to recruit more people from the surrounding areas on any job type. The President stated that he was very happy to visit the constituency and directed the Regional Chairman, Honourable Patrick Chilondola and the Member of Parliament, Paul Dumembe Nkhoma, to organise a development rally for him in the constituency soon.
Speaking earlier both Traditional Authority Mnyanja and MP Paul Nkhoma commended the President for the development projects current taking place in the area. Nkhoma mentioned the Mpasadzi Bridge and the MK250 million Sopani Dam, constructed in November 2020, as a key project with the potential to irrigate 2,000 hectares around Sopani and Chisemphere area, according to an assessment by Kasungu ADD. He thanked the President for approving that the 32 kilometer road from Chatoloma to Kanyika Nobium Mine Project be started with the recruitment of an Engineering Consultant already included in the 2023/24 budget.
Finally, Nkhoma agreed with the TA that hunger has already started biting in his constituency, but was quick to commend the President for opening up ADMARC markets, including Chatoloma, an act that will ease the pressure on maize prices as well as increase accessibility to this precious food commodity. He requested the President to provide some of the fertilizer donation from Saudi Arabia to the people of Chinjoka, Sopani, Bejemani and other areas, where Kasungu RDP already assessed more than 95 hectares for smallholder winter cropping clubs. The assured the President that the constituency can produce and harvest by January 2024.
Speaking earlier, TA Mnyanja commended the President for sending CDI to work in his area. He informed that CDI provided free fertilizer and seeds as well as a monthly stipend of K25,000 per month to each of 1,300 beneficiaries. He requested the President for his personal moral support to the project because more people are willing to participate in it. Speaking later to this reporter, an official from CDI disclosed that the beneficiaries harvested 23,000 bags of maize which they are keeping