Chiradzulu, 2019: Recognitions world over are bestowed on individuals or groups for their unique contributions in specific fields of political, religious, or economical.

Aida was a wife to Rev. John Chilembwe, the earliest hero of Malawi’s independence movement. The martyr is remembered every 15 January. His portrait was long on the back of all Malawi currency notes and is still on the 2000 and 500 Kwacha notes.

 A technical college in Chiradzulu district has been named after Aida. Acting principal of the college, Amos Kasambwe says, “I like the dream of His Excellency Prof. Arthur peter Mutharika’s to honour John Chilembwe and family.

Aida was training fellow women some technical skills like knitting when her husband was a Baptist pastor and an educator who rebelled against the colonial rule.” He says the technical college is to continue with the work started by Aida in Chiradzulu.

“The college which was officially opened on 13th September, 2018, offers seven courses or trades namely renewable energy, fabrication and welding, plumbing, tailoring and fashion design, information and communication technology, carpentry and joinery and bricklaying.” 

In carpentry and joinery, the college produces products like display cabinets, chairs, dining sets and any furniture products.

Kasambwe also explains, “In fabrication and welding, we produce steel beds, steel TV stands, small kitchen ware, steel windows, school desks and chairs.”

On pricing of products, he says, we charge not necessarily to make profits but just get back what we pumped in to continue buying raw materials. The college then had 218 students waiting for industrial attachments with Chiradzulu and surrounding districts of Blantyre, Phalombe, Mulanje among others.

Chiradzulu council Building supervisor, Jimmy Masina says the college is an asset to the Providence industrial church where it stands. The college has employed some people living around it and other community members come to learn some trade skills from the college.

The college however, according to acting principal the college needs additional instructors that is two per trade and it also needs college product marketing team so that once products are made they sell easily