Mzuzu City Council Addresses Long-Standing Issue of Masasa Primary School Fence
Established in 1986, Masasa Primary School is situated in Mzuzu City, Nkhata Bay District, and accommodates over two thousand students.
Mzuzu, Malawi-For more than a decade, community members around Masasa Primary School have been perplexed by a seemingly puzzling issue concerning their school's perimeter fence, writes Tinnah Kumwenda.
This situation, which they often refer to as a "blindfold," revolves around the construction of a fence for Masasa Primary School.
Officials at the school have expressed concerns that between 2009 and 2011, they had requested the Mzuzu City Council's assistance to construct a fence for Masasa Primary School.
They faced numerous challenges, such as trespassing and encroachment, but were bewildered to find documents at the council indicating that the school already had a fence.
Group Village Headman Abelo, who was one of the responsible members during the initial request for the fence, confirmed the issue at hand.
"It is true that this issue happened here. This time around, the council is saying it has sourced funds to help us build a fence. But back then, when we were asking for a fence, it was said we already had one," explained GVH Abelo.
However, McDonald Gondwe, the Public Relations Officer for Mzuzu City Council, denied any prior knowledge of the issue, considering it mere allegations.
"For as far as I know, we have never planned for a fence for Masasa Primary School. Perhaps these are just allegations," admitted Gondwe.
Gondwe further revealed that they have secured funds for the construction of a fence at the school this year.
"We know that schools like Masasa face numerous challenges, especially related to security. Therefore, this year we have sourced funds, approximately twenty million Kwacha, to help Masasa build a fence," Gondwe disclosed.
Moreover, Gondwe clarified that the fence project is expected to commence within this financial year and advised the general public to gather accurate information about issues in their communities instead of relying on incorrect information.
Efforts to speak with the school's headteacher proved challenging, as she claimed to be new.
Consequently, we engaged with the Chairperson of the Schools Committee, Levison Chirwa, who stated that they had not received official communication about this project but welcomed the idea.
"Official communication about this project has not reached us, but we are grateful for this initiative, as it will significantly enhance our security," Chirwa explained.
Established in 1986, Masasa Primary School is situated in Mzuzu City, Nkhata Bay District, and accommodates over two thousand students.