No classmate? Worry not
That Isaac Jomo Osman has vibe, everyone knows. If you want to feel his real impression, spend some time with him when he is in Bangwe.
He has risen from the streets and alleys of notorious Limbe and shanty Ntopwa in Bangwe to become a councilor for Nthandizi Ward on a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ticket.
He became Deputy Mayor of the Malawi commercial capital, Blantyre. The first streetwise kid to become deputy City Father.
His name does not only echo in local politics. In sports, he owns Kukoma ‘Super Queens’ Ntopwa two women’s football clubs. He was also Big Bullets supporters’ chairperson.
His story is idyllic. Aged 10, he left his Mtalimanja Village in T/A Mponda’s area in Mangochi for a better life in Blantyre with nothing but a bag, a few clothes and a blanket. He found himself on his own in Limbe, with only K10 in his hand, spending the first night at what would be his home: The old Limbe bus depot.
He survived the hard knock life on the streets of Limbe, from selling freezes and begging during the day and nights at the Limbe train station where the goods and passenger locomotives arrived from Nsanje or Balaka in the dead of night. When the trains arrived, street children thrived by crook.
As he grew up, he started minibus touting. There, he rose to become chairperson for Blantyre minibus callboys, a position that demands not only mental stamina but also physical prowess as street fights are the order of the day.
That may be a full story for another day.
From driving Ntopwa 1, a car registration number claiming his title and position in the ghetto that made him, Jomo is now chauffeur-driven in BT2. It is in that four-wheel drive Toyota Fortuner that earlier this month he arrived at Namatapa Primary School, which is in his ward.
It is, then, that you could feel his vibe as he was on an official commission to open the 29th Mr Luc’ Library. When he chanted: “Ana inu!” The learners shouted back: “Ana ife!”
The Jomo aura could be felt even greater when he asked the DJ for music. With the children, he danced to such songs as Atoht Manje’s Mchape and Fikisa’s Akamwile, the dust rose to the jovial mood he created.
Jomo’s ambiance could still be felt as he cut the ribbon, alongside Jacaranda Foundation founder Marie da Silva, executive director Luc Deschamps and Smita Seema Amin, daughter to Rameshchandra and Hansadevi Amin, who donated the library to the Namatapa children.
Sometime in August, in an interview with Times Exclusive host Brian Banda, Jomo’s words to show that he was uneducated, were clear: “Ndilibe kilasimenti [I don’t have a classmate].”
It is these words that resonated as pictures of Jomo with school children at Namatapa were posted on the NationOnline Facebook page.
“Now, Jomo has found his classmates,” declared Emmie Sukali in the comments section.
Chakuwalo Mkandawire commented: “Honestly, this man is socially talented. Malawians don’t look at his positive impact on society. Most Malawian professors are failing to bring positive change rather than eating government money.”
Kampani Chisomo Patrick did not mince words: “He is intelligent and not educated. We need intelligent people like him, not educated ones.”
In an interview after the launch, Jomo laughed.
“I don’t have a classmate, but that should not be a reason for me not to encourage children to read,” he said. “When I was growing up in Ntopwa, I never thought I would come to this school and open a library.”
He called on the learners not to be ‘streetwise’ and steal the books.
Jomo, who calls himself mfana wa look sharp (a street wise person), said reading books beyond the school curriculum makes learners more intelligent.
“We missed t h i s opportunity. We should encourage children to read, read and read,” said Jomo.
The Mr Luc’s Library initiative bridges the gap for children from the ghettos in the absence of public libraries that were formerly ran by the National Library Service. It is in these libraries that learners find books beyond the school curriculum.
These are books children from the suburbs can afford to buy like J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dr Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat and others for pleasure reading.
“Through Jacaranda, we give this library to the children of Namatapa. This is in memory of our parents and for their legacy of love, learning and kindness. They are an inspiration for their values and vision for education,” said Seema Amin.
According to Deschamps, the Namatapa library is part of the Jacaranda outreach of community and school libraries. The libraries are in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Dowa and Chiradzulu.
With 2 865 learners, 1 438 of them girls, Namatapa opened its doors in 1983 but this was the first time a room that was previously not in use was renovated into a decorated reading room.
“Jacaranda restored a vacant room at the school, painted it, decorated it, brought in shelves, tables, benches and books that were sorted out according to the reading levels of the children,” said Deschamps.
Roman Catholic Church Blantyre Archdiocese education coordinator Peter Mawere said during the opening of a library at St Kizito Boys Primary School reading more than the prescribed school books enhances learners’ creativity.
“In these books, you find untapped knowledge which pupils use as they advance in their education. As the archdiocese, extra-curricular reading is part of our agenda to make education available to all without discrimination,” said Mawere.
His words echoed the voice of Blantyre urban assistant coordinator for primary education advisor (PEA) Agness Chirwa who says the initiative has had a positive bearing on learners in the area.
“We have seen learners in these schools improving in their English and writing skills. Reading beyond the classrooms opens the mind even more and introduces learners to a new and extraordinary world,” she said.
Speaking in March at St Kizito Primary School, headteacher Ruth Nambuzi said it was high time the Ministry of Education considered constructing libraries in all primary schools as is the case with secondary schools.
“When constructing p r i m a r y s c h o o l s , government must consider a block for the library as is the case with secondary schools. Reading should not be solely for passing exams,” she said.