Nyasa Times ‘Person of the Year’ goes to 7 charity walkers – Youthful Malawians who walked from LL to BT to raise funds for medical equipment
Malawi flagship online news platform, Nyasa Times has named seven youthful Malawians who set off on May 30 for a 362-kilometre 10-day charity walk from Lilongwe to Blantyre to raise funds to buy medical equipment for the High Dependency Unit of Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) paediatric ward as its 2016 Person of the Year.
Announcing the 2016 ‘person of the year’, Nyasa Times editorial management said the publication sought nomination from various reputable commentators and analysts to nominate and give reasons.
Nyasa Times said the charity walkers are deserved to be recognised for its annual prestigious award of ‘Person of the year’.
“Based on the nominations from dozens of analysts, Nyasa Times selected the 7 chairty walkers as title holder of the Persons of the Year accolade,” the online publication said.
The group comprising two men and five women, managed to raise their target of K22 million (about $17 600).
The seven charity walkers are Wanangwa Msutu, Duwa Mvula, Milca Mphepo, Tiyanjane Kapalamula, Ruth Gondwe, Ivy Chilingulo and Kalolo Msaka.
During theier charity walk, the group vhad so many influential people stopping for them, including Members of Parliament and Cabinet ministers.
Football powerhouse, the Nyasa Big Bullets also walked about a kilometre with them.
During their famous walk for good cause, some of the influential people who stopped by to give them support included Mary Chilima, wife to Vice-President Saulos Chilima who was with them when they started off from Lilongwe on day one and also paid them a visit on day three, MPs Juliana Lunguzi, William Kalima and Rashid Gaffar, Cabinet ministers Peter Kumpalume, Patricia Kaliati and Bright Msaka.
The Nyasa Times which celebrated its 10 years anniversary in 2016, introduced the ‘Person of the Year’ accolade in 2010. The title is awarded to an individual who has influenced the year’s news for either positive or negative reasons and is decided by the editors of the online publication after nomination from its contributors, readers and other stakeholders.
Last year Nyasa Times named Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mrs Mary Dominica Kachale as its 2015 Person of the Year or notching 15 convictions in the ongoing Cashgate Scandal, and for remaining unintimidated by potential convicts who may probably be trying all they can to avoid jail.
In 2014 the title went to ‘Malawi Media’ and late journalist Ralph Tenthani for work in informing the masses during the year of elections, playing rightful role as public watchdog and also keeping the nation updated on cashgate scandal.
And the year before that, Nyasa Times named Consumer Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director John Kapito as person of the year because he consistently spoke against bad social, economic and political policies that impact negatively on consumer.
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