The stalling of Mtowe Community Technical College in Nsanje District exemplifies how politics poisons the national development agenda, our Staff Writer JAMES CHAVULA reports:
C hiku Robert is an unsung hero. The security guard has worked without pay for over two years, but seldom skips his shift at Mtowe Community Technical College in Nsanje, where construction stalled in 2020.
“I do it for my children,” says the father of two. “Every person needs skills to succeed in this life, so I’m not guarding an abandoned building, but the future of young people the college was meant to serve.”
Three guards patrol the nine abandoned buildings surrounded by thorny bushes.
Robert, Fred Paraffin and Medison Lazaro are not only waiting for the day the contractor will return and pay their dues but also the completion of the project earmarked to develop the skills of the youth in the rural area, where many flee to towns and cities to get jobs and skills.
The guards take turns guarding the buildings that remain intact despite being discarded six years ago.
“One comes to work during the day. We meet at night to ensure the college is safe,” says Paraffin.
They are unsung heroes n the southernmost district dotted with unfinished State-funded buildings that are heavily plundered.
Wasted millions
Mtowe is among six taxpayer-funded community colleges that government abandoned in 2020 when Malawians voted out President Peter Mutharika, who launched the idea in 2015, in favour of then opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera.
Others are Lura in Rumphi, Ngabu in Chikwawa, Malinda in Nkhotakota, Nsoni in Chiradzulu and Machinga.
Mutharika promised to establish community colleges in all 28 districts before cascading them down to every constituency.
Strangely, the dream hung in limbo for half a decade under President Lazarus Chakwera, who defeated Mutharika in the court ordered fresh presidential election of June 23 2020.
Since Mutharika bounced back last September, he has hinted at plans to revive community technical colleges to end the pause that group village head Chindiyo describes as a wasted five years for the rural youth yearning for technical, entrepreneurial and vocational education and training.
The community leader narrates: “When we heard about the government’s plans to construct a technical college in our community, we quickly identified land by the M1 because it promised our young people skills that they need to get employed or create jobs.
“However, the sudden stop left us wondering whether the government really understands the importance of technical colleges. Politics disrupts development initiatives, but this is wrong.”
Chindiyo reminds political elites that “Malawians do not eat politics”.
“All politicians compete to serve one Malawi, so the future of State-funded projects should not depend on who is in power. Even The youth don’t eat politics,” he states.
Mutharika has promised to revive the skills development initiative for young people leaving secondary schools without a chance to secure scarce places in national technical colleges.
He revealed his plan in Parliament during his brief State of the Nation Address in February.
Ndamera Area Development Committee chairperson Maliki Maganizo has a word for the Ministry of Labour, Skills and Innovation: “Come and complete the project because the youth of Nsanje South have already lost five years.
“Mtowe Community College has been a cause of joy and sorrow. As the buildings took shape, we visualised young people acquiring skills and developing the area. So, we were devastated when politics paralysed the project.”
Unfinished business
Mtowe Community Technical College is one of the unfinished public investments being scrutinised under Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) project to enhance citizen voice and actions in development processes.
The Norwegian Church Aid and DanChurchAid funds the community-led social accountability Aid initiative through MHRRC in partnership with Nsanje District Civil Society Network. It empowers locals to track public spending.
“We need to complete the stalled projects that have already consumed huge sums from public coffers. If not, the country will continue wasting millions dotting every community with unfinished projects. Malawians deserve better,” said Noel Msiska, from MHRRC.
The government contracted Matondo Construction Company to implement the project, but parted due to payment disputes.
In 2022,then Minister of Labour Agnes NyaLnje described the project as substandard.
She wondered why the project has missed deadlines—unlike similar constructions—despite a certificate of completion submitted to the government.
But Mathews January, a 20-year-old unskilled young Malawian from Chididi at the southern tip of Malawi, says the time for politics is over.
“We want relevant skills and decent jobs in rural areas, where most Malawians live and the youth increasingly escape to cities in search of jobs and skills. This has to change,” says the unskilled yougn Malawian.
