Chifira Village Development Association Transforms Community Through Collective Efforts
Residents of Chifira Village in Malawi unite to form a development association, successfully implementing projects to improve education, infrastructure, and social services.
NKHATABAY, Malawi – In a remarkable display of community unity, residents hailing from Chifira area under Group Village Head Chiweyo in Traditional Authority Malengamzoma have become a beacon of hope for their village, writes Victor Musongole.
Recognising the challenges their community faced, the area's sons and daughters came together to form the Chifira Development Association, aiming to initiate various development projects and reshape the narrative of their village.
Established in 2015, the association raises resources through contributions and membership fees, directing them towards the development of Chifira Village.
Over the years, the group has successfully constructed school blocks, maintained roads, and improved the water system, among other achievements.
Vanjolly Manda, Chairman of the Chifira Village Development Committee, expressed gratitude for the association's presence in the area, highlighting the positive impact it has had on the community as a whole.
"Since the establishment of this association, we have witnessed several developments, such as teachers' houses, borehole maintenance, and the construction of a bus depot shelter, among others, which the villagers alone wouldn't have been able to achieve. This has inspired the younger generation in the area, who are benefiting greatly from these interventions," Manda shared in an interview with AfricaBrief.
Inspired by the success of the Chifira association, other Village Development Committees (VDCs) under Malengamzoma have taken note and begun formulating their own associations.
Manda proudly stated, "We are proud to say that after a series of success stories, other VDCs have created their own associations, which also yield positive results. Other villages are coming to learn from us."
Local school leaders have also noticed the transformative impact of the association's interventions.
Nelson Kwata, the Headteacher of Seka Primary School, expressed his appreciation for the development works undertaken by the organisation, citing increased motivation among students and a significant rise in the Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination (PSLCE) pass rate to over 90 percent.
Winley Zimba, the headteacher for Chifira Primary School, echoed Kwata's sentiments, noting a notable reduction in absenteeism since the association's interventions.
Social commentator, Wonderful Mkutche, commended the association's efforts, emphasising the importance of encouraging similar initiatives to drive development in other villages.
Secretary for the association, Pickford Kamanga, shared the group's aspirations, stating, "We aim to develop our village into a place that residents can be proud of, demonstrating that it is possible to give back to our communities. Our vision is to see progress in the education sector with increased literacy rates, while also creating favourable conditions for citizens to access all social services without travelling to urban areas. We strive to make Chifira a model village."
To further their objectives, the association has formed sub-committees dedicated to agriculture and health, enabling members to focus on their respective sectors.
Although some development projects have experienced delays due to limited resources, Kamanga remains optimistic, expecting more members living in distant areas to join the association and contribute to the upliftment of their home village.