…tried to entice PIM to reject Ambulance
By Jonah Phiri
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), through Chiradzulu South legislator Joseph Mwanamvekha, has been coercing members of the church executive at Providence Industrial Mission (PIM) in Chiradzulu District to rescind the church’s request for an ambulance from President Lazarus Chakwera.
During a ceremony commemorating freedom fighter Reverend John Chilembwe on January 15, 2025, the church’s president Reverend William Mitambo requested an ambulance from Chakwera, who is known for keeping his word.
President Chakwera, in his speech during the commemoration, instructed Health Minister Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda to ensure the ambulance was delivered within a month.
However, Mwanamvekha and his constituency team were left shell-shocked when, despite their intensified efforts to derail the plan, government has fulfilled the commitment within 13 days.
Church executive members corroborated the existence of the evil plan in separate interviews to impress on them to rescind their request for the hospital’s ambulance.
One member revealed that Mwanamvekha assured them that within two weeks of the DPP’s anticipated return to power in September, the party’s leader would buy them the needed ambulance.
“The DPP feared that if Chakwera fulfilled his promise within the shortest period of one month, it would embarrass Mutharika because we had made similar requests during his presidency, but nothing materialised.
“Despite reminding Honourable Mwanamvekha about their failure to assist us when they were in power, he insisted that this time it would work. He said it would de-campaign Mutharika if we received assistance from Chakwera. But no one agreed with them. We requested the ambulance because this was a serious challenge, and lives have been lost due to unreliable transport,” disclosed one cleric who opted not to be named.

Mwanamvekha’s team also engaged other senior church leaders, but they were told no one had reminded Chakwera of his promise. The fulfillment of the donation, made without any reminders, left them stunned.
While the situation at the hospital was dire, the DPP’s primary concern was that Chakwera would score a political point if he delivered on his promise.
Political scientist Dennis Mchokero described the actions of the DPP leaders as primitive, criticising them for allowing deaths to continue when someone was ready to help.
“Here is someone committing to help in good faith; why is this evil heart plotting to block such a donation that will actually go a long way to help your people in your constituency and other constituencies? That is callous,” said Mchokero.
Remarkably, Chiponda, 13 days later, handed over the new ambulance to PIM Hospital, where Mitambo expressed gratitude for the swift fulfillment of their request.
Additionally, the government has committed to building five teacher houses at PIM Primary School and constructing a two-classroom block at PIM Community Day Secondary School starting February 3, 2025.
Chakwera also promised to construct a School of Excellence at PIM to honour Chilembwe. The school will feature modern classrooms and laboratories designed to provide a high-quality learning environment.
The President further explained that the school will have a football academy for both boys and girls, along with a state-of-the-art stadium equipped for various sports disciplines such as netball, basketball, volleyball, athletics, and boxing.
Plans are underway to attract international investment, including a recent engagement with Italian investors who are preparing to contribute resources for the school’s development.
These components are part of Chakwera’s broader vision to create Schools of Excellence in every district across Malawi, aiming to bolster local knowledge and capability.