Malawi govt institutes probe into fatal school block collapse: Msaka cheers injured learners
Government says it has instituted an investigation into how government money was used to construct a classroom block in Zomba which collapsed and killed four learners instantly.
Education minister Bright Msaka said this Wednesday at the funeral of the one of the learners crashed to death.
“We are told that government money was used to construct this class structure without due regard to the rules and regulations. We will take action so that this tragedy should not happen again,” said Msaka.
The victims were two girls; namely, Tisunge Francisco, aged 12 years, Jennifer Bonongwe, 11; and two boys, Gift Mwanyada, 10 and Madalitso Nayuma, 10.
Msaka was told at the funeral that the school committee used the school improvement grant to construct the two class room burnt brick building with only mud without cement as speculation is rife that the head teacher and the school committee abused the grant.
He said his ministry would institute investigations to understand the situation further.
The burial ceremony of the young students took place on Wednesday chief Ngwelero’s in Zomba. Atleast 50 learners were injured.
It was during the first period in the morning when tragedy struck.
The block, which used to be Standard 3B, was constructed by the school committee to supplement the shortage of classes at the school, which has 930 pupils.
Standard 3B and Standard 3A housed 116 pupils each.
Speaking on behalf of the four families, Lucius Namanya expressed shock at the untimely deaths.
He said: “This is a big loss to us. This is untimely. We are so saddened by this and we cannot say much. However, we believe this will instil fear in fellow pupils. Some of these structures have to be considered. Some are life threatening as you can see.”
Dowa east MP Richard Chimwendo Banda old parlianent on Wednesday that the government should divert the K5 billion in the budget set aside for the planting of trees by the youth to the construction of school blocks. He said most of learners across the country are sitting on time bomb as their classroom buildings can collapse any time.
Meanwhile, on Thursday Msaka visited and cheered the 15 learners who were admitted to Zomba Central Hospital and expressed satisfaction with the support the hospital was giving to the patients.
He also assured the children that they would all recover soon and go back to school to continue with their education.
The Minister said President Peter Mutharika assigned him to visit the injured learners and cheer them up as one way of wishing them a quick and full recovery.
“The President was very shocked when he heard that the school experienced this tragic incident yesterday (Wednesday) where a classroom wall collapsed and killed four learners on the spot,” Msaka said.
After visiting the patients, Msaka donated K10, 000 to the parent of each learner who is admitted to the referral facility. He also donated plastic buckets, soap, salt and sweets to the injured children.
One of the parents to the learners, Esther Mitimbe who hails from Sulumba Village in the area of Sub Traditional Authority Ngwelero thanked government through the minister for visiting them in hospital after hearing of the accident.
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May Good Lord comfort the grieving families. May Their Souls Rest In Eternal Peace.
10,000 kwacha yacheperatuuuùu.
A Msaka sanatumidwe ndi a President.
Professor sangamtume muthu ndi K10, 000. ACB aonepo. Inali k1oo,000.
Ngati munthu woti sanavulare professor amapereka K20,000 plus kumugulira mowa mpaka kuledzeraaa. Ndiye kulibwanji munthu woti wavulala mpaka adimiti kuchipatala ndipo mzake wamwalira. = >K100,00
Peter wana wako wali KUNJA ukupweteketsa wana wa anthu wosauka —KOMA MOYO WAKO ULI PA MTENDERE ??
Its a rude aweakning indeed thus the prize of lack of citizenship amognst the authorities concerned as they all embracedv corruption as the order of the day please lets sober out for a national cause
This is very sad, May the Souls of the dead pupils rest in peace.
When such small grants are given to schools, there should be a system to check and follow up on the work done. In fact there should be supervision from start to see how the funds are being used and advise on quality of work. We should not wait until something happens.
If mismanagement of funds is observed action should be taken on those involved. If we do this there will be prudent use of resources.
What we call school block in Malawi and yet the DPP government whose leader is the PROFESSOR is claiming to have developed this country. Let us learn to tell Malawians the truth.
Bwana Msaka should be reminded that giving sweets/ biscuits to injured kids or a mere K20,000 to parents of the injured or deceased won’t work.
I remember structures of my primary school built in the 1950s, 60s and 70s but are still standing strong, durable and safe.
Msaka used to be a man of integrity, he should STOP lying for the sake of his political comfort or please MBAVA
SHAME on mediocrity!!!
Kuumira a Msaka, what is K10,000???????????
rest in peace our pupils.you died for a good cause.on the matter at hand, we deny there is no corruption.who inspected this building.50 years after independence we have this and in five years our country will be like Europe Thank you.no more comment.