Blantyre City officials disrupt classes to pay food-for-work casual labourers

Blantyre City Council (BCC) officials disrupted classes at Bangwe Catholic Primary School recently as they forced pupils out of a classroom to pave way for people involved in Food-For-Work programme.

The officials, who wanted to pay at least 60 employees in the classroom, left the pupils stranded on a rainy day.

It took Bangwe Catholic Church parish priest Father John Chitsulo to intervene in the matter.

The school head teacher Lophiha Mbamba confirmed the disruption and said it was not the first time that it happened.

“The other week it was worse as I was not around. A parish priest at Bangwe intervened and the matter is under control now,” said Mbamba in an interview.

BCC chief executive officer Ted Nandolo said it was regrettable that his officials disrupted classes.

He said the officials were told to pay the employees after classes to avoid interrupting pupils’ classes.

“But you know where money is involved, everybody wants to get it immediately,” said Nandolo, assuring that he would put a stop to the practice.

He said the council uses schools as paying centres for security reasons because the officials carry lots of cash.