By Chris Jimu:
This township used to be the backwater of Zomba Municipality before the town became a city a couple of years ago.
Ntiya could be mentioned in the same breadth as Chikanda, Mpunga and Mpondabwino.
Despite being close to the Cobbe Barracks popularly known as 1 MR, Ntiya could not attract any meaningful development.
Today the story is different, the once earth road from Zomba Mental Hospital, which takes one to Namadidi, Nankhunda Seminary all the way to Changalume Barracks (Changaz) or 9 MR is now tarmaked.
That is not all, the street has lights powered by solar and walking, driving or even cycling at night is a real pleasure making the K750 million spent on the project look like money well utilised.
Councillor for the Area Steven Bamusi in an interview claimed that the development that has taken place in the area is unprecedented and almost everybody is happy.
According to Bamusi there are a lot of development projects taking place in Mbedza Ward and Ntiya is one of the areas which has benefited quite a lot.
“We are talking about road projects, schools, hospitals, markets and even bridges. All the footpaths to Nankhunda now have bridges in area which were impassable and we have saved a lot of lives. The Kalimbuka Ring Road is under construction and about K1 billion will be spent on the project,” says Bamusi.
Bamusi also disclosed that about K1.3 billion has been set aside for the construction of the Chinganga Ring Road which will pass behind Zomba Catholic Secondary School all the way to the Zomba Cathedral.
“We are doing all we can to develop this area and I am happy with the support we are getting form government and the council. At Mpotola school we are building an ECD Centra and a market is also on t he offing. Due to pressure from the people in the area a clinic is also under construction near Mpotola School,” claimed Bamusi.
Alfred Longwe a resident of Ntiya and former soccer star for Red Lions and Malawi said the developments in Ntiya are worthy commendation.
“I have been living here for almost twenty five years since I retired form the army but the development I have seen over he years is unprecedented. Before we did not have piped water, the road was impassble during rainy season and not many people wanted to settle here,” said Longwe.
Today Longwe claims many soldiers are renting houses in Ntiya and because of the availability of street lights business men and women are able to transact even late into the night.
Another resident of Namadidi Jasper Kawawa said driving to his home village Namadidi is no longer a nightmare and every week end he makes sure that he visits his relatives because the road is top notch, smooth and very well marked.
If all the areas in Malawi could take after this development model seen in Zomba’s Mbedza Ward especially Ntiya, surely making Malawi a middle income country by 2063 will be a reality.
Dr Thomas Munthali must surely make a courtesy call to the area.
