Claim awards 12 budding writers

The Christian Literature Association of Malawi (Claim) has awarded 12 students who won in a Short Story and Nthano Writing Competition.

The ceremony took place on Saturday in Blantyre during Claim’s 50 years’ anniversary celebrations.

Claim board chairperson Reverend Brian Kamwendo said they thought of engaging students, who are Claim’s direct beneficiaries, as one way of nurturing their writing and reading skills.

“The reading and writing culture is slowly dwindling. So, we decided to rekindle it by involving those on the nursery bed, in this case the students, so that they develop their skills and enhance the reading culture,” he said.

One of the winners in Nthano Writing Competition, Lufiati Nyuzi, who is a Form Four student at Phwezi Boys Secondary School in Rumphi, applauded Claim for the initiative, saying it has helped him showcase his talent.

“My dream is to write both in English and Chichewa so the competition was an exposure for me to showcase what I can do.

“I urge my fellow students to write and read more because this is the only way we can know a lot of things as well as pass our examinations,” he said.

Short story winner Hastings Khamula, Thyolo Secondary School student, said the competition inspired him to do more as he aspires to be a writer, too.

In the competition’s upper secondary category, the winner was Helen Kapile of St Marys Secondary School followed by Fazai Chakwera of Kabwabwa CDSS. Patel Gideon came third

In the junior category, Rexa Siliya emerged the winner followed by Yohane Munthali from Phwezi Boys Secondary School with Emily Mdoka of Likuni Girls Secondary School coming third.

Each top winner received K100 000 cash  and K100 000 worth of books from Claim to enrich their libraries, each second runner-up received K50 000 cash  and K50 000 worth of books from Claim for their school library while each third runner-up went away with K25 000 cash and K25 000 worth of books from Claim for their school library. n