By Burnett Munthali
Vice President Dr. Jane Ansah arrived at Bwemba Village open ground on Thursday where party members and villagers gathered to welcome her, eager to catch a glimpse of their beloved Vice President.
The atmosphere was electric as Pastor Kamanga, Tiafikile Cooperative chair Henry Bauti, Principal Secretary Eric Yesaya, and District Commissioner for Lilongwe Starch Mwambila, took their seats, accompanied by other dignitaries, including the Executive of the Dr. Jane Ansah Foundation, Sub Traditional Chanaguya, and Director of Ceremony Richard Mveriwa, who made opening remarks, setting the tone for a day of celebration and empowerment.
The Vice President had come to represent the Dr. Jane Ansah Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable groups, including the elderly, people living with albinism, and those affected by hunger, and to distribute various items, such as bicycles, maize flour, and sun hats, to those in need, a gesture that brought smiles to the faces of the assembled crowd.
Gogo TA Chingala, in his welcoming remarks, apologized for the late communication, which may have caused some inconvenience, but expressed gratitude for the Vice President’s visit, saying, “We saw the demonstration planting of cassava by you, and kindl remember TA Chingala as your own son,” highlighting the strong bond between the community and their leader.
The Vice President’s visit was a testament to her commitment to empowering communities and promoting development, as evident in her interactions with the Tiafikile Cooperative, a group of dedicated farmers who had surrendered 1.5 hectares of farmland each to cultivate crops, including bananas, sunflower, cassava, and soya beans, and had started a village bank, which had transformed their lives.
Mr. Staff Misi, Secretary of Tiafikile Cooperative, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Vice President for her unwavering support, citing her instrumental role in his education, saying, “She gave us the idea of coming up together, and we have just started, but we have started with more fire,” as the crowd erupted in applause.
The Vice President’s speech was a call to action, urging the community to work together, be honest, and strive for development, emphasizing the importance of education, unity, and environmental conservation, as she encouraged them to plant trees, form clubs and cooperatives, and engage in bee farming, saying, “Let’s unite and work together and prosper.”
As the Vice President distributed the items, including maize flour, bicycles, and sun hats, to the beneficiaries, the crowd cheered, and Limbani Mussa recited a poem, “Ndithandizeni Amayi,” amid ululation and handclapping, a fitting tribute to the Vice President’s selfless service to the community.
The Dr. Jane Ansah Foundation, through its trustees, including Interim Board Chairperson Kamanga, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting vulnerable groups, including students, the aged, and people living with albinism, and announced plans to help Tiafikile Cooperative register and access more resources, a move that would further empower the community.
As the Vice President concluded her speech, she left the community with a message of hope and empowerment, saying, “I learned how to take care of trees from my grandfather Jobe Nyaka, and I call it Jobe Nyaka irrigation,” inspiring them to work towards a brighter future, together.
The event culminated with the distribution of items, including 137 maize flour, bicycles for cooperative members, sunscreen lotion, clothes for the elderly and people living with albinism, and hats for people living with albinism, as the Vice President also announced plans to fix two broken water wells in the vicinity, a gesture that brought smiles to the faces of the villagers.
The Vice President’s visit to Bwemba Village was a resounding success, a testament to her dedication to empowering communities and promoting development, and a reminder that together, Malawians can achieve greatness.
