Donated Juice Machine Idle for Lack of Training
The juice machine was donated to empower the women's cooperative but sits unused without proper training, members say.
CHIKWAWA, Malawi - A juice making machine donated to Zimveke Women Cooperative in the area of Traditional Authority Makhuwira in Chikwawa three years ago sits idle due to lack of training on how to operate it, says the vice chairperson, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
"We are just looking at the machine, as none of us have been oriented on how to use it," said Cecilia Nangumi on Tuesday.
Nangumi said the machine was donated to the women's group in 2020, but since then, no training on its operation has been conducted to equip the women with the necessary skills and knowledge.
She said the women are making juices manually, which makes the work tiresome and laborious.
Maness Kamanga, desk officer for the cooperative, acknowledged the donation of the machine but said it is nonfunctional.
She referred questions to officials from Christian Aid, which donated the equipment.
Lawrence Chingoma, an official from Christian Aid, confirmed the donation but said procurement personnel were in a better position to comment on the lack of training.
Chingoma said there is a service agreement for the supplier of the juice making machine to train the group.
"Let me first consult the procurement officer to comment before on the development," Chingoma said.
The juice machine was donated to empower the women's cooperative but sits unused without proper training, members say.