By Charles Leyman Kachitsa Why do some families seem to be dominant in ruling over others or put simply in seemingly producing leaders? This question has always been a puzzle to many with most settling on the simple explanation that it should be that the elevation of one gives the advantage to the others of his/ her children, siblings and or relatives. This is a very baseless explanation as it is not a true reflection of nature, we know of families where there is only one person who despite trying to give advantage in all forms; capital for business, positions in organisations, he or she still remains the only one standing with the others failing or squandering their chances. There must be a deep explanation therefore about how power can revolve in families. One simple first stage where we may want to stop and look could be perhaps looking at developed countries monarchy. How do these nations maintain their monarchy systems especially in making sure incoming heirs have requisite personality ettiquatte and skills? The answer is in training and education. In developed nations morchany apparent heirs to the throne are trained for ruler-ship from the time they are born. They are educated in all aspects from understanding the world, nature, economic knowledge, philosophy, religion and military power. This is why for example in the UK the heir and perhaps all nearer to the throne, have to be trained and spend some time in the military. The same principle is true of successful families who have taken turns to rule over others, the answer is in their training from where ever they have grown up. Wher ever in this sense who ever took charge to raise them up, be it parents or another successful relation or in some cases for the lucky ones someone not related who have identified them for mentorship. The other reason being the support they receive from family in the training and discharge of their duties when they commence. While others look for blessings and training from outside, good parents bless their children and train them with belief that they are training leaders. You can only get power from within which when it is expressed outside is so strong that it is difficult to diminish it. Children this is also a lesson for you to honour your parents as no one can bless you primarily any more than they can, not any pastors, spiritual leader can do it unless they are your parents or have adopted you as their child in their absence. The blessings of others outside your ‘parents’ is secondary. Parents have delegated powers from above having been assigned to pro-create to bless their children and if you look at it, that line is very clear. God created man in His image and man is mandated/ delegated to procreate another. This same principle is what makes other races feel superior and others feel Inferior. Some races are born and taught from childhood they are superior and they grow, walk about carrying that, believing that. They therefore take their position wherever they go and sometimes pushed on by those who would already been feeling theirs is an inferior race. Others are born into and surrounded by an air of inferiority status and are chided every time they try to rise in fact sometimes without reason just to put them down by others including their own parents. What would you expect from such people growing up. Of course, once in a while you have people who become enlightened and break up as they call it ‘the glass ceiling,’ getting on to the league of those considered superior. For the luck ones that marks end of the lower mark for all their families, existing and future generation. That is if those associated with them are prepared to learn. For some it is like a one off fluke where after the person who had broken through passes on, the remaining and future relations get back to their inferiority positions. We have a major problem in that, that which we do not understand, that which has mesmerised us, we settle for a simple explanation such as saying one has used black magic (witchcraft) when they have broken through financially or you find such other unproven explanation. This we do at the expense of sitting down and doing a proper research or an analysis on how things have happened for them to break through. Yet everyone desires to be well to do, everyone desire a happy life and everyone wants to have influence over others. Most would like to have their children inherit their wealth or trade but fail to teach them the lopes ending in the vicious cycle that is often told that wealth of a person who has passed away is unsustainable (chuma cha masiye sichimalimba). We forget in giving the narrative that those who have inherited such wealth or trade or position they are messing, were never properly trained by the benefactors. I edge all who want to keep their names, their family names to have a deliberate intention of training those they want one day to carry on their legacy whether their children, brothers, spouses and or relatives. doing that we will not be surprised when the legacy continues smoothly from one to the next. This applies to ones job as well. Take an example of current USA President Donald Trump, he has always trained and included his children in his trades in business and now in politics, they are now in top government positions. It is nowhere called nepotism because people realise by their training they are capable to carry the job on. So lets stop using the excuse of calling such fallaciously, ‘this is building a dynasty.’ Our analysis should be whether the person given that privilege is doing their job well on the position they are occupying. We should not be stagnant by looking at who came before them on the same role
Category: Inspired Living
Healing the Nation – An Outsider Inside View
By Charles Leyman Kachitsa I have written elsewhere in my weekend series of Inspirational Quotes that a nation that does not heal itself, should forget tangible development and harmonious living of its citizens. I did say that national day celebrations or remembrance days in most nations are an apparent way of healing past wounds and making sure if some section of the people were injured one way or the other, whether emotionally or physically they feel some remorse and mercy of their perpetrators, detractors or persecutors. Another way of such healing was given for example, as the method adopted by Nelson Mandela on assuming power in South Africa through the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), a national healing tool. What I want to address in my write up would not perhaps qualify to many as a national issue on the magnitude of the above examples, though it was and to some they may look at it in their own way which is fine in this day of mind independence and freedom of expression. This will touch on the happenings in my national country of origin Malawi. For a long time there were these troubling thoughts of what had happened in the political arena after the 2004 elections which were won by late Professor Bingu Wa Muthalika. It is undeniable fact that he mostly won through the endorsement and promotion by then State President Bakili Muluzi who also had handpicked him for the candidature out of the blues considering the party, UDF had other capable aspirants. As history would have it the two fell out immediately after Bingu was sworn in. Only speculations which I don’t want to belabour outlining here gave so many theories as the major factor for the two becoming nemeses. Though some pointed to the unceremonious dismissal of Bingu Wa Muthalika at COMESA when Bakili Muluzi the then President of Malawi, was the chairman of the regional block. People pursuing such angle went on to say Bingu’s picking as a presidential candidate may have been a way of consoling him for the mishap he faced at COMESA. We may not all know exactly the behind scenes. I should mention that I liked Bingu from the outset because he was outright brutal honest with any issue, a fact that could have been attributed to his experiences before this appointment a trait perhaps the current president also has. Many people liked him and that was evident with the results of the 2009 elections. However, there was still that dent of how he left the UDF to form the DPP leaving behind his mentor and some hardcore followers in desolation. Quite understandably, emotions were bruised, some people had felt used and left behind, others felt empty and could not make out what had actually happened. Also quite obvious spirit were dampened, minds felt deep hurt, those with past wounds felt their wounds opened afresh. Some felt totally betrayed by the happenings. In no small way the dent of a broken relationship that could have been perhaps based on trust might have been something surely that the mighty Bingu Wa Muthalika could have felt at some point required rectifying. There were moments quite evident for instance the state presidency swearing ceremony of 2009 which brought the two together at the Kamuzu Stadium and such emotions of want were displayed. For all his principles and strength of making tough decisions there was a deeper human side that was there perhaps for all to see in Ngwazi Bingu Wa Muthalika, a visionary and development conscious leader. It is with the above background that the choice of running mate by Professor Peter Muthalika of DPP successor and brother to Bingu Wa Muthalika, in trusting UDF’s Atupele Muluzi a son to Dr Bakili Muluzi feels as steps to national healing. Most people are billing it as a return of two groups of people who in the first place should not have separated despite misunderstandings, accusations, or mistrust, I take it as a significant and historical happening that should be the trend with most things in healing of the nation. Perhaps now the wild spirits would be settled down, and people can start more to look at the positives in the nation. In traditional life of Malawi they talk of sitting down the spirits that would have felt injured, this would be in the belief that they have now been soothed. Having said that there are so many issues likewise in the nation of Malawi that needs healing. Starting from the local tribal wars that were there before the emergency of the current nation, the Chilembwe uprising which contrary to many people’s knowledge he was betrayed by his own people and most people who lost lives as a result were killed by their own indegenious fellows working as colonial army or police officers. Going on to independence; the cabinet crisis has not had a proper closure, the death of people from the whole village of Moto in Mangochi, the massacre in Nkhatabay, the many disappearance and death of people (some not necessarily killed by government but some people taking advantage), the war of Mwanza where Yatuta Chisiza died, the death of four cabinet ministers, the relocation of teachers to their regions and or district of origin, the brutalisation of people who were Young Piooners as they were doing a job unknowingly, the Kamuzu case after his presidency and one would extend to the losing of jobs as a result of market liberalisation in the multi-party era. All these need some form of national healing. Some nations do their healing through opening of government records of such happening just to give people of what may have compelled those in authority to act the way they did. What information they were acting on and whether there was a bigger threat to national security. So I congratulate the current state president for being brave to start such a process of national healing. after all is
Inspirational Quotes for the WEEKEND
By Charles Leyman Kachitsa For things to be born there must be a dying of some kind. This is very true of growth as well. Most growth spring up after the death of dead parts to bring the fresh and life begins again. Plants are a good example of the death/ growth/ new beginning of life from dead seedlings. A seed has to die first in the soil for new plant to come out of it. This is more evident of the outer shell of the seed which must die to give way for that which is inside to come to life. When people say I am a born again, what they refer to and in some without knowing it, is that their old life or ways of doing things have died and they are on a new life journey. Which reminds me that life is a journey. Like all journeys the experience between and amongst people would be different. Even for two people on the same journey if they were asked their experience of the trip, they would give different dimension of the same trip they both have been on. Which brings another topic of while, perhaps diversity needs to be celebrated otherwise we would all have one story to tell. This week I finish to presenting the quotes from a book that when I read made my early education years in history seem to have some void. The book gives an account of a man who was there and experienced it on the birth of the new independent Malawi in a very contentious era of the nation. He survived and through the book I am about to quote, lived to tell the other side of the story many had heard but never this untold episode. I am sure from these quotations you will learn one or two things, read and enjoy: THE LIFE OF GEORGE NDOMONDO: Shepherd Boy, Clerk, Politician, Guerrilla General, Detainee and Priest by George Ndomondo and Colin Baker “I thought that if my fear of Kamuzu made me abandon Chip, then as a consequence I would have much more to fear from the people. I therefore made a firm decision to be with Chipembere rather than to continue with Kamuzu and the MCP. Others too made up their mind to be with Chip and support his movement. To crown it, when Chipembere established a camp in the bush, people who had good businesses came to be with him. People like John Afiki Mkweta, Akimu Tambala and Thengo Maloya who were the ambassadors who were sent out as diplomats. Still more people in government and other corners in the country supported Chip with finance and clothing for his soldiers, and people surrendered their weapons and guns for him to use to attack Kamuzu. People greatly supported Chip – Village people as well as town people who had top jobs in government.” “The time came when Chipembere and Silombera were satisfied with our training, but we needed more guns. 12 February 1965 was the day selected to overthrow Kamuzu Banda. Chipembere decided to attack Fort Johnston (Mangochi) in order to obtain more guns from the police and the prison, before going on to Zomba where Kamuzu was. The Fort Johnston attack was a plan to get weapons and vehicles to carry soldiers to Zomba. Some people argued and proposed to use the Ntaja road to Zomba or to go to Blantyre but Chipembere preferred going via Liwonde. In the end Chipembere’s plan was accepted. In all there were between 1500 and 1700 soldiers involved. There were a number of reasons why Chipembere insisted on going via Liwonde rather than via Ntaja. His plan was to start with Fort Johnston to get what was required: guns, vehicles and prisoners to join the army. He thought it was a straightforward trip to Zomba. Some elders saw disadvantages in going via Liwonde and argued against it. At first all were in favour of the Liwonde route and only village headman, Chindamba, was against it.” “A week after Chipembere wrote his 25 March letter to the Governor-General, he also wrote to the US ambassador, Sam Gilstrap, who showed it to Jones. Chipembere was confidently expecting an amnesty to be declared for himself, the ex-ministers and all those who had taken part in the attack on Fort Johnston. If the amnesty were granted he wished to leave Malawi to study an M,A, degree in History at an American university. He would like his wife, Catherine, and two of his children to follow him to America, and his wife to be given a post as a teacher in a Secondary School. When he was told of the letter, Banda’s reaction was again immediate and unequivocal. He would agree to Chipembere leaving the country for further education, provided he did not plot against the Malawi Government or make speeches critical of Banda personally while in exile. ——————- A few days later a letter was sent to Chipembere telling him, first, that Banda had agreed to his departure, including the two conditions attached to his permission; second, that Gilstrap had agreed to find him a place at an American University; third, that arrangements would be made for his wife to join him; and, forth, that action would be taken on his supporters in jail once he had left the country. The letter also invited him to select a choice of days for his departure. It was signed with a pseudonym, Gideon Banda. ———— Chipembere replied to Gideon Banda’s proposals on 16 April by hand of ‘one of the wanted men’. He accepted Banda’s proposals and selected 26 April as the date to leave from Malindi, with 28 April as the alternative. He also said that if the amnesty were not granted early enough or if he were arrested by a trick, his men in the forest would continue rebel activities in his absence, and the violence then would be much worse. After his evacuation
Youth Empowerment Through Art
Many young people in the country have figured out that for one to be successful is not waiting for employment; self employment also does the trick. One area the youths are flourishing is in arts. Grace Nsonga a young fashion designer took a bold step and employed herself after she graduated at African Bible College. She believed her art of designing and tailoring would be enough to be her number one source of income. “I believe God blessed me with a designing skill, and while I was at school, I would use this skill to earn a little something for my upkeep. After I had graduated I thought it wise to grow this business and make it my number one source of income,” Grace said. As of now she has her own tailoring and designing brand called Grace Garment Zone. This business has benefited and opened so many doors for this young lady. For instance she was able to pay for her tuition fees for her post graduate degree which she obtained at African Bible Institute; Grace also has had the opportunity to designn for Malawian models during the famous miss Malawi competition. To add on this, this young lady has been able to employ other youths who work at her tailoring shop and like her; these young people are also relying on themselves. Grace said this is something that brings joy to her that from this business, she can be able to assist others in need. “It gives me so much joy that taking the bold step to start up my own thing was not a mistake. Now not only do I manage to rely own myself but also empower my fellow youth. “My desire and goal is to see this business grow and be able to go international but also employ and support more young people,” the designer added. Similar to this, we have three young talented men who started their company at a very young age called The Dream Manifest and they are growing and making an impact in the media industry. The company founded by Praise, Matthew and Owen is a media company which offers photography, videography, audio production, designing and branding. Since the company was founded, these three young men have benefited a lot from it. For example, it has helped each one of them be independent on their own, opened so many great opportunities for them as a company and as individuals. This company has also helped them partner with other big companies which has created other big businesses fort them. In an interview, Praise one of the founders advised his fellow youths that for one achieve this big dream, a person always needs to go forward despite the setbacks. “Challenges will be there for everyone starting something artistic. Like for us, since we are not yet there and that well established, we do straggle with trying to partner with bigger organizations which are well established but we do not give up. We keep going forward because what makes the difference is not giving up,” he said. He added by saying that young people should not give up on their dream and always, they should follow what they want to do in life. – BY RUTH SALIMU
First Mother-Daughter Pilot Duo In History Had First Flight Together
Female pilots, even in 2019, only account for an estimated 4.4 percent of commercial pilots in the U.S. and the U.K., according to the Centre for Aviation, which means that aviation still remains a male-dominated space. Well, it was only recently when aviation history was made when the first mother-daughter duo was piloting Delta Boeing 757 flight. Captain Wendy Rexon and her first-officer daughter Kelly Rexon are officially the first mother-daughter duo in history to pilot a commercial flight together. Wendy, her husband, and their two daughters are all pilots, and she and her daughter Kelly Rexon first flew together on a flight out of New York’s JFK airport. Wendy recalled that her daughter was fantastic, and even though they had a bit of trouble, it was all made easier because of training and because of her daughter’s competence.
Minister Awards Best Performing students
By Evance Chisiano Minister of Information, Civic Education and Communication Technology, Mark Botomani on Friday awarded 162 best students in 19 public and private secondary schools in Zomba Central Constituency. The Information Minister presented the awards at Likangala Secondary School during a Bester Awali Best Performing Students awards for students in Zomba Central Constituency, where Awali is Member of Parliament. Botomani therefore commended the parliamentarian for being an inspiration to the students and for honouring the best students in his constituency saying it was a gesture worth emulating. “This is the first of its kind and this is creative initiative,” Botomani commended his fellow parliamentarian for introducing the awards which is expected to motivate students to improve their academic performance. The awards were given to three best students in forms two up to three in 19 secondary schools in the constituency and students on position three went home with K2, 000, students on position two received K3, 000 while those that came on position one got K5, 000 each and a certificate of academic achievement. Botomani who is also Member of Parliament for Zomba Chisi therefore commended the students for working hard to emerge best performers in their respective classes. Apart from awarding the 162 best performing students, Awali also awarded two Chichewa teachers at Likangala Secondary School, Monica Kamalonda and Samson Diston whose students pass rate in Chichewa subject was 100 per cent with several distinctions and credits than any other subject in the 2019 Malawi School Certificate Examinations. The Information Minister said it is the wish of government to improve education in Malawi that is why it is a second priority area in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy. However, Botomani condemned acts of violence among students saying it was counterproductive to efforts meant to improve the quality of education in the country. He cited the burning of learning and recreational facilities at Lunzu and Thyolo secondary schools in recent days. “This is unbecoming behaviour and cannot be tolerated in this country,” Botoman said while encouraging students to engage into dialogue with school administration when disagreements arise other than resorting to disturbing classes, stoning, burning school property and attacking teachers. In his remarks, Awali said he decided to introduce the Best Students’ Awards as a way of appreciating his secondary education and an attempt to honour students’ achievements and acknowledging teachers’ hard work and dedication to duty. Awali pledged that he would continue with Bester Awali Best Performing Students Awards during his five- year parliamentary term of office as Zomba Central legislature. “This is to inculcate in you students a spirit of hard work,” Awali said while commending teachers in Zomba Central Constituency secondary schools for contributing to students’ achievements which he said were reasons for celebration. He therefore called on students in his constituency to work hard to ensure that students from the constituency are enrolled into universities to become productive citizens. “If you sow laziness you shall reap failure but if you sow hard work you shall reap success, hard work pays,” the Zomba Central Parliamentarian said while promising students and teachers more annual Bester Awali Best Awards. A form four student of Eagles Foundation, Eston Ndeule who received a certificate, K5, 000 cash, hard cover and pens said the award was a motivation that needed to be sustained to create competition among students. “I’m happy that my hard work has been recognised in such away,” he added.
Mwayi Yelewa: The First Class Female Engineer from MUST
When she joined MUST in April 2014, she was among 9 percent of the girls that had been selected to the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST). The low number of girls in this group was attributed to the fact that most girls shun sciences as they are brainwashed to believe that sciences are too tough for them. Mwayi Yelewa might have noticed this imbalance and as if on a mission to prove that this is only a myth and to beckon other girls to go for sciences, she was the only girl among the 120 plus students selected that year to get her Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Biomedical Engineering degree with a first class. In fact, there was only one make student who matched this feat. With this achievement, Mwayi etched her name in MUST’s annals of history as the first female to get a first class in all of the university’s engineering programmes and the first female student to achieve this under the Malawi Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the four school at MUST. In humility, Mwayi claims she never expected to get first class although it has been her uncle’s desire to see her excel and be at the top of her class. “The encouragement from uncle motivated me to never look down upon myself because he was able to see that I have the potential to do it. Although I did not see that potential myself, I believed in his encouragement,” she said in a recent interview, adding that when she got the results of her final year examinations, she could not believe it. “But it made me really happy.” Yet those who know her from her secondary school days at Providence in Mulanje and at MUST, say that Mwayi’s achievements are not surprising. According to them, she has always been brilliant and has previously won several awards for her academic excellence. Her background does not give much for a successful student. “I was born at Holy Family Mission Hospital in Phalombe 3rd July, 1997. I was unfortunate to have lost my mum in 2005 but that meant going to stay with my uncle and his family who raised as their child. “My primary school journey began at Likanani School in Mulanje in 2002. After my mother’s death, I was enrolled at Providence Primary Boarding School, where I wrote my Standard 8 examinations and got selected to Providence Girls Secondary School. With my good grades during MSCE, I was able to join the Malawi University of Science and Technology,” she said about her education background. Interestingly, from her secondary school days, Mwayi had two ambitions; to become a medical doctor or a mechanical engineer. Since MUST’s call for applications for selection came earlier than the other public universities, Mwayi did not want to take chances. “MUST attracted me because it was offering engineering programmes, which was one of my areas of interest. I really wanted to do a science programme because I believe that girls are good in sciences only that people have been made to believe otherwise,” she said. For her, science was interesting and easy because she takes it as part of her life. “Everything that is around us is science. For instance, in our day to day lives, we play netball or football which requires the players, even unknowingly, to apply specific amount of force to the ball for it to reach the next player within a specified period of time and at a desired height. “And just because in class you do the same things with actual calculations does not make it different. For me, I found the calculations exciting as I was able to relate them to what we used to do and that made me eager to know more. That helped me to always get good grades in sciences,” added Mwayi. Despite this, Mwayi said her Biomedical Engineering programme was never easy as others may want to believe, saying there were times she would be in class for over two hours and come out without understanding anything. “Maybe the difference is that while others would just be complaining, in my case I would go and ask some of my colleagues for help. Some of them were helpful but others refused to help me because they believed that I was bright enough to understand the stuff or that if they teach me, I would do better than them. “Another challenge was being in a class with fewer girls than boys. I was being underrated by male colleagues that a brilliant idea cannot come from me. At first I used to worry about it but I then took it as an opportunity to show them that I can do it as well and even better,” Mwayi explained. After celebrating the achievement, Mwayi’s eyes are now focused on seeking opportunities for further studies and finding time for innovations, especially in medical device designing. She believes her dreams can only come true if she joins the academia and become a lecturer or a researcher. Mwayi would love to see more girls excelling in sciences. “Fellow girls, I am just a human being like you and the fact that I have achieved something means you too can do it. Just set your goals, be determined and put God first in everything that you do,” she advises, adding that her happiest day at MUST was when she was awarded for being the most hardworking student in in the 2019 class. She also lists the day she lost her mother as the saddest one in her life.-(Story Courtesy of MUST )
FACE to Face With MUST First Female Genius
By By Aisha Amidu Her love for science subjects begun when she was in Form 2 at Mwanza Secondary School where most of other girls shunned the sciences. “I wanted to be different,” says Eneless Rasheedah Nsamila who has lived her dream to be among a few female scientists in the country. She is the only female student who has graduated with a distinction from Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences of the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST). “While in secondary school, I realised that many girls could not score highly in science subjects because they had mentality of dealing with simple things and not taking challenges,” Nsamila says. So she wanted to be the odd one out and, consequently, developed keen interest in the sciences. “This is what inspired me most as I wanted to score better than boys who were always on top by then,” she says. Upon writing Malawi School Certificate of Education, Nsamila had good grades in science subjects and this motivated her to apply for enrolment at MUST. Fortunately, she was selected to study Earth Science at the Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences. One of her final year lecturers Ellasy Gulule Chimimba says Nsamila’s name was all over MUST since she joined the university because of her consistent outstanding performance from lower classes up to when she graduated. She says Nsamila’s good behaviour also contributed to her good grades because her name never entered the school authorities’ black books throughout her stay at the university. Now, Nsamila says science is part of her life as she wants to fill the gap of female geologists in Malawi. “I want to fill the gap that is here in Malawi. There are few female geologists in the country and very few girls are currently studying earth science at Ndata School of Climate and Earth Sciences,” she says. Coming from a poor family background, Nsamila’s success has been a function of hard work, determination and perseverance. She relied on Campaign for Female education (Camfed) scholarship. Apart from tuition fees, Camfed also provided her with other resources including pocket money. However, the money was not enough as she used part of it to support her family back home. As a single-parent family, Nsamila felt obliged to be parting ways with a little something to help her mother and siblings back home. But this generosity eventually made college life difficult for her especially in the final years. “My sponsors did not manage to provide me with money for meals during my first semester in fourth year which affected my academic performance. “I also did not finalise my research project in time because I had no money to use in field activities. So I had to rely on school transport which was not readily available,” Nsamila says. Even though her road was thorny and bumpy, Nsamila emerged with a distinction in Earth Science during the first ever MUST’s congregation held on 5th November this year. Another Nsamila’s lecturer Dr. Emanuel Vellemu says the world needs to push more females to go study science courses. “Intelligent female students like Rasheedah need to study science and mathematics as they have been sidelined for ages,” he says. He explains that it is for the same reason MUST came up with annual “Girls Camp” initiative that instills, inspires and motivates female students like Nsamila to study science courses. “The beauty about Rasheedah is that she is hardworking and a goal-getter. She would meet her deadlines without extensions unlike other students; mentorship became easy as she begun seeing science modules relatively easy,” he says. Nsamila would work on her research project during weekends both in the filled and laboratory as her supervisor was pressing her and fellow students hard for them to submit quality work. Her research project was about hydro geology assessment of borehole water quality in Chifunga area in Neno District to determine salinity levels and establish spatial variation of major ions and general groundwater quality. She found out that World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines for calcium (200 mg/l), chloride (250 mg/l), electric conductivity (140µs/m), total dissolved solids (1000 mg/l), turbidity (5 NTU) and pH (6.5- 8.5) in drinking water exceeded by 25%, 0%, 75%, 75%, 100% and 0%, respectively, for all borehole water samples. “High turbidity, Electrical Conductivity (EC) and total dissolved solids (TDS) in all the four boreholes render water in study area as brackish and unsuitable for drinking,” reads part of the study report. The report further says the concentrations of analysed solutes are not wide in range suggesting that the hydrochemistry is controlled by few or one related process such as water-rock interaction. “Based on the interpretation of the comparative analysis of variance for EC, it shows that there are no significant differences in salinity levels between the four boreholes. “Results reported in this study provide baseline scientific data useful for designing monitoring programmes of groundwater in Malawi and beyond and it will render service to others exploring similar groundwater studies,” the report says. Nsamila explains that she would spend most of her weekends in the laboratory analysing samples which made her to have extra time to work on the project. Her research supervisor Dr Vellemu says the quality of Nsamila’s research findings “is quite good for her level; no wonder she passed with distinction.” Meanwhile, the research paper is set for submission to international journals for publication. Speaking when he presided over the first-ever congregation, President Arthur Peter Mutharika said MUST believes in championing new research and innovation in science and technology that empowers the nation to take control of its heritage of indigenous resources. He told the graduating students to always work hard to achieve their dreams. “Believe in yourself. Be different.You are going with skills to bring electricity and quality water to our homes in the villages,” said the Mutharika, who is the university’s Chancellor.-(Mana)
Inspirational Quotes for the WEEKEND
By Charles Leyman Kachitsa Change is inevitable and since man was created so many years ago, he has known that this has to be expected. For some time in search of more civilization, man has tried to constantly change the environment in which he lives to make it as comfortable and easier as would be construed to support a sweet life. What is surprising is that despite this yearning for change, man reasons that the green nature of things that was perhaps the first creation is not only ideal for life but has to be desired to sustain life. To preserve the green that man desires, nowadays in advanced developed parts of the world all new developments are being made with natural areas of green plants as spread as possible. Even the designs of buildings are being made as open as possible to allow much natural sunlight in. In fact in some future plans already being implemented in some famous advanced cities, motor vehicles for personal use are being pushed away to the peripherals of the cities as far away as possible with citizens encouraged to walk or cycle around. Come to some developing countries, most often you hear their desire to urbanise all land as much as possible. Such countries should look at the trend now fashionable in the advanced countries and perhaps in advance mark some of their land as preserved areas to be kept as natural as possible. In blunt language, the thinking that all areas in a country need to be turned into cities is unsustainable. It may appear advanced thinking to have all modern apparatus but one would quickly realise that we cannot beat nature in any form as it was designed to be. Should we therefore with the aforesaid abandon any development initiatives? A big NO! We should still thrive to better our lives where ever we are and our neighbourhoods. However, we should have deliberate policies of keeping most of the areas as rural as possible in their natural environment outlook although its people must be educated, its infrastructure modernised. Modernisation of building has to be done creatively using natural available resources and tools, through an informed basis scientific research that tests all elements including impact to life, durability, renewability and sustainability. In that vein, most African countries have everything they require in resources and nature. Africa is a continent where the sun smiles the biggest. This week we continue to look at the quotations from the book I have been reading lately. It encourages human relationships as a way to positive living. I am sure that the quotes will make you reflect on your own practices and that you will learn one or two lessons from such. Read and enjoy: THE BLESSING OF RELATIONSHIPS by Dr James Hansen-Sackey “We must do all we can to avoid formulation of superficial relationships as we progress on the path to our destiny. Forming and strengthening genuine relationships is of great importance. Sincere relationships are worth nurturing: for through such nurturing, genuine love can indeed emerge. Consequently, the best interest of one as a friend is developed in the heart of another. Ultimately you would have a friend who is indeed a friend, one who remains true, loyal and unchanged through the challenges of life no matter what. It is important to note however that anyone who must have a real friend must first prove himself to be a real friend! Would you consider yourself to be a real friend to someone in need of a real friend?” “Here are some other possible responses to use when approached with gossip which I have found helpful: You may ask the person, ‘Can I quote you on this?’ People who are interested in sharing gossip will not want to be quoted. Secondly, tell the gossip that you love the person that he/she is talking about, and you don’t appreciate how the person is being talked about, so this serves as hint to her that you are not interested in tearing somebody else down. You might also want to ask the gossip if he or she has any resentment against the individual concerned. Finally, try this other question: ‘Have you talked to [that person] about the matter?” “In my experience, the strongest motivation for forgiveness is always the sense of having received forgiveness ourselves or the awareness that, like everyone else in the human race, we are imperfect and have done things we need to be forgiven for. I understand that some of the things people do pierce our hearts like sharp arrows and it can be difficulty to deal with the aftermath and scars that result from their treachery. But the simple truth is that we must learn to forgive.”
WOMEN ASPIRE GRASPING THE OPPORTUNITY YOUTH SEMINAR
By Tikhala Chimpango Women Aspire, an organisation based in Manchester has organised an empowerment seminar for Youths in Manchester this coming Saturday, the 19thof October at St Thomas Conference centre in Ardwick from 1pm to 5pm themed ‘Grasping the Opportunity’. In Industrialised economies social economic background is associated with educational expectations of young people as well as their educational and occupational attainment. Evidence points to the fact that the pattern of social inequality has been much the same across industrialised countries (Sharit and Muller, 1998). Research has shown that young people from relatively disadvantaged backgrounds have generally lower expectations than their more privileged peers. High Social Economic Status students can draw on the social and cultural capital at their disposal to overcome poor performance (Ingrid Schoon). Students with High SES have more educational opportunities, greater access to financial and material resources, role models, occupational knowledge and informal networks and support systems. Women Aspire Youth seminars are organised to address these inequalities by exposing the Youths to role models who look just like them with the hope that they too will start to dream in colours and take advantage of the so many opportunities that are available here in the United Kingdom. Secondly, the seminars are conducted to assist goal development among young people. We hope these seminars will help raise our children’s aspirations and educational expectations. In a study by Sabrina Zirkelit was found that role models played an important role in young people’s development. Young people become invested in academic pursuits if they are exposed to role models from a young age. The study revealed that students who reported having at least one race- and gender-matched role model performed better academically up to 24 months later, reported more achievement-oriented goals, enjoyed achievement-relevant activities to a greater degree, thought more about their futures, and looked up to adults rather than peers more often than did students without a race- and gender-matched role model. Teenage aspirations and expectations in combination with academic attainment are an important predictor of adult social status. Evidence continues to show that to raise these aspirations, teenagers must be exposed to role models from a young age, this is especially true for black children. Speakers on the day include Sydney Mserembo, Vinjeru Mkandawire, Rabecca Sano. Angela and Emmanuel Saiti and Crystabel Khoza will also spice up the seminar with their dance.