President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has called on Malawians to embrace a spirit of Umunthu, which entails helping one another in times of need.
Dr Chakwera made the call at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe when he presented a cheque to needy students from various public universities in the country.
The universities have received a total of K225 million, with K37.5 million to each institution going towards tuition fees for needy students while Mpatsa Primary School of Senior Chief Tengani in Nsanje has been given K225 million for reconstruction after the school was destroyed by Cyclone Freddy in March 2023.
Currently, learners at the institution are studying in 80 tents, hence the funds will be used to construct two classroom blocks.
Dr Chakwera assured the needy students that government will not allow any child to drop out of school for reasons beyond their control, saying the importance of education for the youth is equally enshrined in the Malawi 2063.
On behalf of needy students, Japhet Kapalepale, a final year student at Malawi University of Science and Technology, thanked Dr Chakwera for the gesture, which he said is testimony of the President’s commitment to transform lives of the needy and vulnerable and for putting the youth at the centre of every development discourse.
Kapalepale also thanked Dr Chakwera for revising upwards upkeep allowances for university students from K350,000 per year to K560,000.
Vice Chancellor for Mzuni, Professor Wells Singini, thanked President Chakwera for increasing number of students accessing loans as 23,000 needy students are benefiting from the facility.
However, he called on others to complement Dr Chakwera’s initiative as the need is still huge.
The money disbursed was raised in the Presidential Charity Golf Tournament held in October 2023.
The Presidential Charity Initiative was established years ago as a response to request for financial support towards needy students and it uses golf as a fund raiser.
Dr Chakwera has been participating in the tournament as a commitment to the course of the needy.
Meanwhile, a 2024 edition of Presidential Charity Golf Tournament will be held on October 12 this year at Limbe Sports Club, according to Chairperson of the Presidential Charity Initiative, Vizenge Kumwenda.
By Isaac Jali
