Journey to Chitekesa
Government, through the Local Development Fund (LDF), is constructing a rural growth centre in Chitekesa Village, Phalombe. But what is it like to travel there and why have a growth centre? EPHRAIM NYONDO narrates.
Migowi—a vibrant and sprawling market where Phalombe District headquarters is being relocated—is quite a busy area.
As early as 6 am, the place is chaotic with people criss-crossing with different vehicles and bicycle taxis as they go about their various errands.
Bicycle-taxis are the main mode of transport in Phalombe. They are seen ferrying people to different destinations. In fact, the journey to Chitekesa begins with a bicycle taxi.
While there is an old Toyota Corolla which leaves at 8 am everyday, anyone in a hurry or those who miss it find the bicycle taxi a convenient mode of transport.
So, riding on the carrier of Damino Mukhaliwa’s bicycle-taxi, the journey to Chitekesa began exactly at 7:45 am. The narrowness and roughness of the road due to dugouts and bumps explains why it will take years for people of Chitekesa to ride in a proper vehicle.
“Most of the good cars that come this side are for government officials and NGOs,” says Mukhaliwa, the bicycle-taxi cyclist.
Despite being free from hills and mountains, the road passes over some risky and poorly built bridges that, unarguably, is life-threatening.
Yet people in the area, says Mukhaliwa—wearing a torn white T-shirt tucked in khaki trousers—are used to the road.
“We have been voting for different people, expecting change, but nothing comes our way. No one cares for us. What can we do?” asks Mukhaliwa, sweating profusely as his bare heels peddle the bicycle.
He has a Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) but has never found a job.
“I have been to Blantyre, to Mulanje, and Phalombe looking for employment. Nothing has come my way. I grow tomatoes but it is not enough to live on.
“So from the sales of tomato, I bought this bicycle. At least, I make money from the transport business. My wife at home still sells tomatoes,” explains Mukhaliwa, 32. He is a father of four.
Located 40 km north of Phalombe boma, and at least a two-hour cycle from Migowi, Chitekesa is an island community yet rich with opportunities.
To the east is Lake Chilwa which provides the community with a vibrant fishing industry. The soil here is dark and loamy, making it ideal for agricultural production. Almost every crop grows here. But maize, tobacco, tomatoes, potatoes and rice appear quite a darling to many.
Unfortunately, the fishing and agricultural opportunities abundant here contrasts sharply with the living conditions of the people. Most people here—judging from the poor grass-thatched houses and poor social amenities available—remain trapped in abject poverty with no access to many social facilities such as markets, shops, electricity and roads.
Despite breaking their backs year in and year out, says Jack Mailosi, a maize grower in the area, it costs about K1 200 for a round trip to Jali and K1 800 for a round trip to Phalombe.
“This makes our products reach the market at a higher price than our colleagues who live closer to the markets. This negatively affects production of agricultural products in this area because we know that when we go to the market, our products do not compete well,” he says.
Even fishers on Lake Chilwa also lament the lack of reliable markets in the area.
“Most of the fish caught is sold at rock bottom prices because of lack of access to markets,” says Kenneth Kawira from the area.
Women in the area, too, says 28-year-old Mafunasi Majawa, struggle to access facilities such as maize mills due to lack of power. The nearest maize mill in the area, she adds, is at Jali, Zomba, which is a five-hour walk.
“When we want to mill maize, we normally leave as early as eight o’clock. We return around 2 pm, too tired to do anything else,” she explains.
She says it is also expensive for people to operate diesel maize mills because the commodity is not readily available in this area.
“Most of those who tried to establish maize mills in this area went out of business,” she says.
For a long time, people in the area travel over 10 km to the nearest maize mill, 14 km to the nearest market at Jali in Zomba and about 40 km to the nearest bank at Phalombeboma.
In response to these challenges, government, in 2011, began to construct a rural growth centre (RGW) with funding from the Local Development Fund’s (LDF) Local Economic Development (LED) project. It is worth K400 million.
Through the RGC, Chitekesa is expected to have structures such as roads and communications, energy supply, agro-processing and manufacturing.
The LDF, through an enterprise development sub-component, will also facilitate business growth by encouraging communities to save, invest, impart business skills and open up markets for goods and services.
In an interview with The Nation in October 2011, village head Chitekesa was excited with the project, saying: “The people of the area cannot wait to start reaping the fruits of the development that government has brought in our area.
“Everyone in this area is excited about these development and we cannot wait to start using these structures.”
Two years on, there is hardly an indication that Chitekesa RGC, which was supposed to be completed within a year, will be finished soon.
