Malawi Defence Force (MDF) soldiers have set camp at Mqocha Community-Based Childcare Centre, (CBCC) depriving children access to their safe zone where they learn while playing in a push to have a solid start in life.
The country settled for a community-led early childhood development initiative, but dozens of children, aged below six, have been denied access to their nursery school because soldiers are using it as an epicenter of their operation to prevent the smuggling of tobacco and maize across the porous border with Zambia.
The Nation has established that 60 preschool children at Kamtchenja CBCC in Mqocha border zone have had the start to lifelong learning disrupted by the operation to keep crop harvests within the country.
children from Kamtchenja CBCC in Mzimba. | Malawi Defence Force
The soldiers, clad in their wartime fatigues, have been camping at the childcare centre for two months.
While the soldiers are equally on a good cause, children’s rights are portrayed as secondary in the State-sponsored mission to curb the smuggling of tobacco, maize and groundnuts to Zambia and Tanzania, where the crops fetch higher prices than on local markets.
Concerned Malawians in Mqocha have bemoaned that the soldiers’ prolonged stay at the centre for children aged three to five, compromises the national agenda for every child to get quality preschool experience before enrolling in Standard One.
The CBCC also provides nutritious porridge for children at risk of hunger and malnutrition amid chronic hunger.
In an interview, concerned community member James Phiri said: “As parents, we are concerned that the MDF have snatched the place where our innocent children used to learn, play and eat while acquiring vital life skills, including team play.
“What we started as a temporary stay in May this year is nearing two months and some weeks as military officers and troops keep handing over the facility to each other. This derails our children from learning. Since the school term opened, caregivers have never taught them”.
One of the caregivers, Elizabeth Phiri fears that the 35 girls and 25 boys may forget what they had instilled in them.
“The soldiers sought chief’s permission, but we didn’t know they would take so long,” she said.
When contacted, group village head Chalotwa, born Emmanuel Msimuko, said he too was “taken by surprise” as soldiers sought permission after erecting tents at the nursery school.
“Since they had already pitched tents on their own before consulting me about the centre, I found it hard for me to turn them down,” he says.
However, the community leader said he pledged to relocate the soldiers to another strategic place “since the CBCC belongs to learners. He did not disclose where.
The Nation asked MDF public relations officer Major Emmanuel Calvin Mlelemba to comment on the alleged takeover of a facility reserved for the Malawian child, but he feigned ignorance.
“I know nothing about the news as I am hearing from you,” he said, demanding written questions that he has yet to reply to.
Mzimba South district education officer Bridget Nungu said she was unaware that soldiers had cordoned off the rural CBCC operated by M’mbelwa District Council’s social welfare office.
But in an interview, district social welfare officer Bernard Nangwale confirmed that soldiers had turned a childcare centre into a military camp.
He said steps were underway to ensure children return to their safe zone to play and learn without military interference and distractions.
“As Mzimba South district social welfare office, we are making strides that the soldiers find another place by Monday where they can operate effectively. Otherwise, the shelter is meant for children,” said Nangwale.
He said if the soldiers do not move out, higher authorities will intervene.
Human rights and good governance campaigner Moses Mkandawire urged military personnel not to trample on the rights of civilians, including children’s interests, while executing orders from above.
“I appeal to the MDF to ensure when executing their duties they should not violate children’s rights. They should move to a better place, not a childcare centre. They have to negotiate with the locals first instead of imposing their wishes on host communities,” he argued.
Mkandawire asked MDF to build sub-units in strategic places along the country’s borders as they did in Chitipa at the northern tip for security operations.
