Former Blantyre City mayor Chikakwiya cheered up
Former students of Nyambadwe Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Blantyre on Monday cheered up their former teacher John Chikakwiya at his home in Ndirande Township in the city.
He was teacher-in-charge at Nyambadwe CDSS, then Malawi Correspondence College, between 1980 and 1981 and has been unwell since 2019 when he suffered a stroke.
During the visit, Chikakwiya shared his experience during his time at the school.
He said: “I was arrested in 1981 because about half of the students passed the national examination with good grades.
“So, the examination body thought we were cheating and I was interdicted. But in 1984 government recalled me after failing to prove their claims and I was sent to Lumbila in Chilomoni.”
Chikakwiya said he was happy to hear that some of his former students are running their companies while others hold different key positions in various institutions.
The alumni gave him K205 000 cash as a token of appreciation and pledged more support.
On his part, the group’s treasurer Josphat Thondoya said Chikakwiya contributed a lot to their life and the country.
He also expressed concern over the current state of their former school and pledged to support it with resources.
Nyambadwe CDSS current head girl Joyce Lungu said the alumni’s gesture taught them a lesson to respect teachers even after school.
Chikakwiya served as Blantyre City Council mayor from 2001 to 2004 and was United Democratic Front regional governor (South) between 2003 and 2005.
