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Success Stories

Salima- Pemba NICE Case Study

  • by admin

The Government of Malawi recognises that good governance is a prerequisite for economic growth and development as reflected in the Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS II) of 2011-2016 under Theme No 5 of Improved Governance. In October 2016, the Government of Malawi and the European Union signed a Financing Agreement for Chilungamo Programme (Justice and Accountability) with financial contribution from the 11th European Development Fund (11th EDF). The Chilungamo Programme ultimately addresses two core Malawi’s governance challenges, namely:

(i) Lack of transparency and accountability amongst duty bearers and

(ii) Weak accountability institutions and limited capacity of the citizens to demand and claim their rights.

NICE’s Multi-Annual Programme Estimate (MAPE) is aligned to both objectives of the Chilungamo Programme. The main objective of the MAPE   is “to contribute towards the promotion of democracy and good governance in Malawi through civic and voter education.” The support that the Chilungamo Financing Agreement contains towards NICE, is consistent with NICE’s Strategic Pillars of; Demand Side of Governance (Transparency and Accountability), Social Cohesion and Peaceful Co-existence, Citizen Participation in Public Life, Electoral Processes and Voter Education.

The activities of the MAPE centres on enhancing citizen participation in public life and creation of space for citizens to articulate their aspirations, ideas, frustrations and interests thereby contributing to the maturation and entrenchment of democratic values and principles.

The Case Study

In Salima South East Constituency, TA Pemba, GVH Pemba, the community was faced with a challenge of the closure of Pemba Primary School whereby the council had ordered Pemba School to be closed due to a land conflict between the Salima District Council and the land owner Mr Everesi Petro and his relatives.

What Transpired:

  • A land conflict developed between the Petro Family and the Salima District Council.
  • The Petro family had borrowed their piece of land to TA Pemba to be used as a Pemba Primary School football ground.
  • The Petro family reclaimed the land and built three (3) houses on the land.
  • When council noticed the development, they told the Petro family to relocate, so that the land can be re-used as the school’s ground but the family refused without being compensated, so that they could rebuild their homes.
  • On the 24th December, 2020 the community took the matter in their own hands and marched to the school grounds and demolished the Petro family houses by shattering the windows, TV screen, furniture and broke down the walls of the house.
  • As a repercussion, the council decided to shut down the school until the land owners were evacuated.

The challenges that were faced by the community were;

  • Community using violence to solve issues and not knowing the rightful authority to involve.
  • Interrupted learning; Pemba Primary School provided essential learning to the children in GVH Pemba, and when the school was closed by the council, children were deprived of opportunities for growth and development which brought a disadvantage of disproportionate for under privileged learners who tend to have fewer educational opportunities beyond school.
  • No student was allowed to transfer out of the school and teachers were not allowed to enter the school premises.
  • Poor nutrition; the school provided a nutritious porridge meal and many children depend on this since they come from under privileged homes, so when the school closed, their nutrition was compromised.

NICE INTERVENTION.

  • Called for a community meeting to sensitize on the disadvantages of mob justice and lawlessness.
  • Called for an interface meeting between the community, traditional leaders, ADC and Council to discuss the situation at hand.
  • Called for a meeting between the TA and the Petro family.
  • Called for a meeting between the TA, ADC and District Education Manager.

IMPACT OF NICE INTERVENTION.

  • Re-Opening of the Pemba School:  The DEM agreed to re-open the school on the 24th May 2021 whereby the kids are back in school after a whole term has been lost.
  • Community training on disadvantages of Mob Justice:  The Pemba community now have the knowledge of not resulting into violence to solve their issue but using the rightful authorities and procedures.
  • Earned Community’s Trust:  The community now has the trust that NICE can help them solve issues that are being faced with involving the right procedures.

The Story

In Salima South-East, TA Pemba, GVH Pemba,  there have been a conflict over land which was used as the school ground because the land owner’s parents had given permission to the GVH and the school to do so without their son’s consent and when the son came back he reclaimed his land and built his home there, it has been over 5 years and now the district council has told the owner to evacuate the premises so that the land can be reused as the school ground without any compensation for relocation.

On the 24th December 2020, the community took the matter in their own hands and marched to the school grounds and demolished the petro family houses by shattering the windows, TV screen, furniture and broke down the walls of the houses.

NICE held an intervention meeting to address the disadvantages of mob justice and called for a meeting between the TA and the Petro family to discuss their relocation. Then NICE Called for an interface meeting between the community, Traditional leaders, ADC and Council to discuss the situation at hand. It was during this meeting that the council decided to close down the school until the families evacuated. But the families still refused citing that they could not relocate without being given a place to relocate to and compensation to start re-building.

With the effects of the school closure whereby students were not learning and were not allowed to be given transfers, NICE called for a meeting between the TA, ADC and District education manager and it was agreed that the school would re-open on the 24 May 2021 and the issue of the relocation would be left to the lands, police and DC office to handle.

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