School for the blind hails Chakwera initiative

Malingunde School for the Blind in Lilongwe has thanked President Lazarus Chakwera for directing that K1.8 million raised during this year’s 58th Independence Day commemoration prayers be given to the institution.

In an interview on Saturday, the school’s teacher-in-charge Vincent Mathanki said they depend on a monthly funding of K325 000, which is not enough to sustain students and other operations.

“The school has 46 students and the funding we get is used to buy maize, sugar, beans, cooking oil and other basic needs at the boarding school,” he said.

Mathanki said the school faces security challenges as there is no fence around the premises.

“The school also fails to venture into income-generating activities due to lack of the fence,” he said.

However, Mathanki said last year the school had five candidates who sat for Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education examinations and four were selected to Namitete Community Day Secondary School and Lilongwe Girls Secondary School.

During the National Service of Worship on July 6, Minister of Lands Sam Kawale, who was the Independence Day Celebrations organising committee chairperson, announced that the President directed that the proceeds from the service be used to assist the needy.

During the service, Chakwera donated K1 million and Vice-President Saulos  Chilima K500 000. In total, K1.8 million was raised.