The Department of Civic Education under the Ministry of Local Government has expressed optimism over the newly elected committee for Chikowi Civic Education Hub in Zomba District, describing it as a crucial step toward driving mindset transformation in line with the Malawi 2063 agenda.
Officials say the committee is expected to spearhead civic awareness and community engagement initiatives that will help instill a culture of responsibility, patriotism, and active citizenship—key pillars of the Malawi 2063 mindset change enabler.
Speaking during the election of the committee members at Senior Chief Chikowi’s headquarters in the district on Friday, Kondwani Hillary Chitosi, Chief Civic Education Officer in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, highlighted that the committee will allow people to discuss issues that affect them in relation to their rights and responsibilities in implementing various developments in their areas.
Chitosi expressed hope that the newly instituted committee will collaborate closely with Area Development Committees (ADCs), the District Council, and members of the community to identify key challenges affecting Senior Chief Chikowi’s area.
He said that through collective efforts and locally driven solutions, the area will strengthen its resilience and steadily progress toward achieving the aspirations of the Malawi 2063 agenda.
“We encourage the committee to work with every stakeholder to make sure that Malawi 2063 is realistic,” he said.
Representative from Zomba District council Nyson Chibondo, who is also the community policing coordinator for Zomba district, said the Civic education hub will help to facilitate Civic education within the area.
“This will help disseminate civic awareness to communities regarding rights and responsibilities and mindset change,” said Chibondo.
In his words, newly elected Committee Chairperson Thoko Sikisi said it’s commendable to have the committee which will help tame and solve challenges right in their respective areas.
The first set of committee hubs was established in 2023 and currently are in 14 districts, which have seen an impact on reducing Child marriages, rescuing children from marriages, disaster resilience, positive mobilisation among other issues affecting the communities.
