Leaders Unite as Foundation Stone Is Laid for Project Expected to Ease Burden on Women

By Mabvuto Kalawa, CorrespondentMalawi Freedom Network

There were smiles, songs of celebration and expressions of gratitude at Makanya Catholic Church Centre on Monday as the Father Superior of Nathenje Parish, Fr. Thomas Kasiya, laid the foundation stone for the construction of a maize mill expected to transform the lives of hundreds of families in the area.

For many years, women from Makanya and surrounding villages have been forced to walk more than 18 kilometres to access maize milling services. The long and exhausting journeys have consumed valuable time, exposed women to safety risks and increased the cost of processing their maize. With the launch of the new project, community members believe those hardships will soon become a thing of the past.Nathenje Parish Launches Fundraising Initiative

The foundation stone-laying ceremony began with a community meeting, followed by speeches from traditional leaders, community representatives and church officials. Despite speaking from different perspectives, all the speakers shared one common message: the maize mill is more than an infrastructure project—it is an investment in dignity, service and community development.

Speaking during the ceremony, the catechist for Makanya Catholic Church, Mr. Custom, expressed appreciation that the parish had chosen his community to benefit from the project. He called on Christians and all community members to actively participate in the construction process by providing labour and other forms of support.Nathenje Communities Laud APM’s Governance

“As Christians, we believe God wants His people to work with their hands. This maize mill will reduce suffering, especially for women, and give mothers more time to care for their families and participate in church activities. We are committed to protecting and maintaining this facility,” he said.

One of the women leaders, who is also a traditional chief, thanked Nathenje Parish for selecting Makanya as one of the beneficiaries of the initiative. She explained that the community had already begun discussing how the project would be managed to ensure its long-term sustainability.

“We will establish a management committee with clear rules to oversee the operation of the maize mill. The income generated will be used to pay electricity bills, the mill operator, maintenance costs and to build savings that will eventually help us purchase another maize mill for another community under the pass-on programme,” she said.Nathenje Residents Celebrate Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s Political Comeback

She added that women in the area had endured years of hardship by travelling long distances to access milling services, often carrying heavy bags of maize over difficult terrain.

“You have rescued us from years of suffering. This project will save us time, reduce costs and improve our safety. We promise to look after this maize mill because it belongs to the whole community. May God bless our parish priest for this wonderful initiative. Mwatigwira pamkono,” she said.

Senior Group Village Headman Mchakulu, speaking on behalf of fellow traditional leaders, also praised the parish for bringing the project to Makanya. He described the maize mill as a development that would benefit everyone regardless of religious affiliation.

“This maize mill is not only for Catholics. It belongs to the entire community, regardless of denomination or cultural background. We have waited for this opportunity for a long time, and we promise to protect it with our lives. My subjects will take good care of this facility because it represents real development,” he said.

In his remarks before blessing the site, Fr. Thomas Kasiya urged the community to regard the maize mill as a shared responsibility that should serve both present and future generations.Father Superior Urges Holy Guardian Angels Mphakati to Sustain Support for Nathenje Parish

“When we build together, we build God’s Kingdom. May this maize mill bring food to our tables, peace to our homes and hope to our community. I encourage everyone to care for this facility and manage it responsibly so that, in time, the proceeds can help establish another maize mill for another community through our pass-on programme,” he said.

Construction of the electricity-powered maize mill is expected to begin as soon as possible. Once completed, the facility is expected to serve more than 650 households, including families from villages across the Diamphwe River in neighbouring Dedza District. Community leaders say the project will significantly reduce the distance women travel to mill maize while cutting milling costs by almost half.

The Makanya maize mill will become the second such facility established by Nathenje Parish. Part of the funding for the project was raised through the parish’s Golden Paper Sunday fundraising initiative held earlier this year. The project forms part of the parish’s broader strategy of promoting sustainable community development and strengthening the financial independence of local church centres.

The ceremony attracted traditional leaders, community members, parish committee members, teachers from nearby schools and church faithful, all of whom witnessed what many described as the beginning of a new chapter for Makanya.

Nathenje Parish currently serves six church centres through six catechists, and the maize mill initiative is expected to expand progressively through the pass-on model, enabling more communities to benefit in the future.Japan Commits to Supporting Expansion of M1 Road From Malangalanga to Nathenje

For the people of Makanya, Monday’s ceremony represented far more than the laying of a foundation stone. It symbolised a partnership between faith and community development, offering renewed hope that practical acts of service can transform lives and improve livelihoods for generations to come.