Walking the walk: MP Mumba pledges K5million to keep needy nursing students in schoo

Mzimba Central legislator Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba swapped the debating chamber for the open road on Saturday morning, joining nursing students in a fundraising ‘big walk’ aimed at raising money for needy nursing students across four institutions in the northern region.

Mumba, who served as Guest of Honour at the event, didn’t just show up to walk – he put his money where his mouth was, personally pumping in K5 million of the K20 million the students were hoping to raise.

‘I accepted to be part of this event because my core belief is that education as well as health care system in third world countries like Malawi should be publicly funded.

“I want to call upon more people who understand the principle of people over politics to come forward in supporting less privileged students struggling with fees in their tertiary education,’ Mumba said.

The MP revealed that his involvement had a ripple effect beyond his own contribution, with friends both in Malawi and abroad chipping in after spotting his social media post about joining the walk, sending money directly into the National Organisation of Nurses and Midwives (NONM) Students Chapter account.

NONM Students Chapter President and event organiser Ida Msimuko, a final-year student at Mzuzu University, said needy nursing students face a daily battle to stay focused on their studies while worrying about how they will pay their fees.

‘Much as they would want to work hard in their studies, they also think of their economic challenges and this distracts them especially when they have no tuition fees. I want to thank Engineer Mumba for supporting us and I urge many others to follow suit,’ Msimuko said.

NONM President Shouts Simeza, who is also Principal of St John’s Institute of Health, praised the Students Chapter President for organising the event, warning that a significant number of students end up dropping out entirely due to a lack of tuition fees.

‘They face a number of hardships. In the past all students were accommodated on scholarships but that’s not the case now. Government withdrew such scholarships especially in CHAM institutions. They therefore need this kind of support,’ he said.

The fundraising drive aims to support needy nursing students across all four institutions offering nursing training in the northern region – Mzuzu University, St John’s Institute of Health, St John of God University and the University of Livingstonia.