The number of Presidential Zikomo award winners has shrunk further as this year’s ceremony on Friday saw President Lazarus Chakwera decorate 13 individuals and organisations.
In the inaugural edition in 2021, the President Chakwera initiative saw 36 nurses decorated for their commitment towards the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
In last year’s edition, the awardees list shrunk to 21 as individuals from fields such as sports, education, charity, information and communication stechnology and arts were recognised.
The State House was yet to respond to our enquiry yesterday as to why there is a drop in the numbers.
In the latest ceremony held at Kamuzu Palace, renowned businessperson and philanthropist Napoleon Dzombe was among the awardees.
He is founder of Blessings Hospital, a community health centre that serves Dowa and Lilongwe communities at affordable rates.
His charity works also stretch to agriculture where he trains farmers in modern farming techniques. He has also invested in sugar and rice production as well as hospitality industry, creating hundreds of employment opportunities.
In his reaction, Dzombe said: “I am just speechless and very excited. When you do things you don’t know what will happen afterwards. I have been humbled tonight.
“I would like to ask my fellow Malawians to work hard so that we can develop our country.”
Other awardees are Lilongwe-based health facility Partners in Hope known for its HIV and Aids fight and Atsikana Pa Ulendo, a girls secondary school located on the outskirts of Lilongwe City that offers affordable education to rural girls.
The Ministry of Water and Sanitation’s Department of Water, Nsanje-based Tengani Water Users Association, Baseflow and Rumphi based Henga, Phoka Water Users Association were also recognised for their role in ensuring provision of safe water to underprivileged communities.
Uchembere Wabwino and Wandikweza community based health facilities were also recognised for provision of affordable maternal care and other health services.
Others were Tingathe Social Enterprise, an entity that economically empowers marginalised communities and Kibebe Social Enterprise which supports refugees. Completing the list of awardees was Arcades, a social enterprise focused on creating sustainable wealth for rural communities. And Micromek Limited, which produces low cost drones that have been critical in transporting medical and humanitarian supplies to rural areas.
In his speech, Chakwera thinly justified focusing the awards on the organisations.
