First Lady donates sewing machines to Kapiri Zokonda Amayi group

By Sarah Munthali

First Lady Madam Gertrude Mutharika on Monday donated three sewing machines to Kapiri Zokonda Amayi women group for winning first position in the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Zokonda Amayi awards last year.

Presenting the gift to the women, Special Assistant to the First Lady, Lonnie Chijere Chirwa said the First Lady decided to donate the sewing machines to empower the women in the group economically.

“Through the Zokonda Amayi Radio Programme on MBC, women from all over Malawi are able to do different activities, share ideas and most of all engage in charity work.

“The First Lady decided to donate to the Kapiri women to motivate them and help them generate income,” she said.

Chirwa said the First Lady, who is the Patron of Beautify Malawi Trust (BEAM), is committed to ensuring that women are involved in different businesses to help their families.

“Though BEAM, the First Lady also encourages cleanliness in surroundings and as a group, we encourage you to be in the forefront advocating for clean environment,” she said.

In her remarks, Mchinji District Commissioner, Rosemary Nawasha, commended the First Lady for the donation which she said would go a long way in improving the lives of the Kapiri Zokonda Amayi women.

Chairperson of the Kapiri Zokonda Amayi Group, Florence Rodrick, said apart from income generation, the group will use the sewing machines to sew uniforms for orphans and clothes for other needy people.

“Since we started our Zokonda Amayi group in 2016, we have constructed a house for a needy man and an under-five clinic, we also encourage women to go for cervical cancer screening,” she said.

She expressed gratitude to the First Lady for fulfilling her promise of donating the sewing machines to the group. -Mana