Presidential Charity Initiative Donates K450 Million to Needy Students and DoDMA
This year's Presidential Charity Golf Tournament is scheduled to take place in Blantyre on October 12, 2024.
LILONGWE, Malawi— President Lazarus Chakwera presided over a ceremony at Kamuzu Palace on Tuesday, presenting cheques worth K450 million to support needy students in public universities and the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) for the reconstruction of Mpatsa Primary School in Nsanje, which was devastated by Cyclone Freddy, writes Esther Banda.
The funds, raised during the 2023 Presidential Charity Golf Tournament, include K225 million allocated to six public universities, with each receiving K37.5 million.
The remaining K225 million was donated to DoDMA for rebuilding Mpatsa Primary School, located under Traditional Authority Tengani, which was buried by sand during the cyclone.
"Your contributions are a testimony to the spirit of Ubuntu that lives within each of us, the understanding that we are because others are," President Chakwera remarked during the ceremony.
He emphasized the vital role of education in national development, stating, "The students we support today are the leaders, innovators, and change-makers of tomorrow. By investing in their education, we are investing in the future of Malawi."
Japhet Kapalepale, a student from the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), expressed gratitude on behalf of the beneficiaries, noting that the increased annual upkeep allowance from K350,000 to K500,000 would significantly alleviate their financial burdens.
"It will also help us to focus on our academic goals by not having to worry about how to make ends meet," Kapalepale said.
Rev. Moses Chimphepo, Director of Preparedness and Response at DoDMA, praised President Chakwera's personal commitment to restoring education facilities, stating that the reconstruction of Mpatsa Primary School symbolizes hope for its pupils.
"The fact that President Chakwera has committed funds towards the construction of new classroom and administration blocks gives a ray of hope to pupils and signifies his commitment towards implementing recovery programmes to restore devastated livelihoods," Chimphepo explained.
The education sector in Malawi has suffered extensive losses, with damage estimated at $42.8 billion.
A total of 637 educational institutions, including 550 primary schools, 74 secondary schools, 3 colleges, and 6 universities, were affected.
The six public universities benefiting from the donation are Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), University of Malawi (UNIMA), Mzuzu University (Mzuni), Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES), and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).
This year's Presidential Charity Golf Tournament is scheduled to take place in Blantyre on October 12, 2024.