By Llywellenie Mpasa:
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has embarked on an initiative aimed at utilising sports as a tool for imparting lessons on the perils of corruption in secondary school students.
Through the K20 million ‘Ziphuphu Njee’ football and netball tournaments, sponsored by the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR), the initiative encompasses 60 rural and urban secondary schools from Zomba.
ACB Director General Martha Chizuma, speaking during the tournament’s finals at Zomba Police Mess ground, highlighted the significance of integrating sports into anti-corruption education.
“The initiative aims to have a lasting impact, shaping students into vigilant and responsible citizens equipped with the knowledge and determination to combat corruption throughout their lives.
“The K20 million IPOR-backed event has not only provided an arena for healthy competition but has also served as an educational medium to instill values of integrity and ethics in the young minds,” Chizuma said.
IPOR Director of Strategy and Management, Professor Blessings Chinsinga, stressed the significance of collaboration and dedication in combating corruption among the youth.
“Today, we stand united with the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Ministry of Education to drive a collective mission, nurturing a generation with a corruption-free mindset, fostering a prosperous and equitable Malawi,” Chinsinga said.
At the end of the tournament, four finalists in netball and football, including Cobbe CDSS, Songani CDSS, Balamanja, and Chirunga CDSS, received science laboratory equipment worth K1.5 million each, a tangible investment in their educational infrastructure.
Education Division Manager for the South East Education Division, Macauden Msakatiza, highlighted how sports provides a unique platform to engage the youth.
“Through this event, our youth have been learning the values of fair play and determination, values crucial in the fight against corruption. These lessons will mould them into responsible and ethical citizens, contributing positively to the growth and prosperity of Malawi,” Msakatiza said.
