When tobacco gives back to the community

By Richard Chirombo:

From 2007, when people from Chalika, Elton, Zulu Chabvula, Kawaja, Mbauwo and other villages saw Kaswiti Primary School being opened in their area, dilapidated classrooms were a pervasive presence.

However, for 319 learners that regard the school, which is in Ekwendeni, Mzimba District, as the home of academic excellence, it was not the dilapidated classroom blocks that aroused trepidation in them; it was, in fact, the onset of rains.

“We always feared for the worst during the rainy season. There was this lingering fear that, maybe, a block would fall on us,” said Simao, one of the learners.

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Now head teacher Joyce Mpata, Parents Teacher Association (PTA) members, traditional leaders and learners themselves are elated after Alliance One Tobacco Malawi started constructing a two-classroom block that has since been handed over to local communities.

On a hot morning on Tuesday, February 11 2025, learners could be seen walking in and out of the classrooms, apparently happy that they had found the long sought after shelter.

“Before Alliance One Tobacco Company constructed the two-classroom block, some learners used to learn in a grass-thatched class. To make matters worse, classes were being disrupted during the rainy season,” Mpata explained.

Following the construction of the school block, stakeholders hope that Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examinations candidates will be passing with flying colours.

“In 2024, all 17 PSLCE candidates passed, with 10 being selected to community day secondary schools,” the head teacher, who now wants to see more candidates being selected to national secondary schools, pointed out.

Another school where teachers, learners, PTA members, traditional leaders, among others, are smiling from ear to ear due to the intervention of the tobacco-buying firm is Changoma.

There, a two-classroom block that had seen the best and worst days was adopted and renovated.

From 1995, when the Mzimba District-based school was opened, learners—especially those in standard 3 and 4—were used to reporting for classes in the afternoon because of shortage of classroom blocks.

According to head teacher Lusungu Kachali Nsele, the problem of classroom shortage was fuelled by the fact that some classes were not in good shape.

“We, therefore, felt happy when Alliance One Tobacco Company officials told us that they would renovate the block. Before the renovation exercise, classroom floors had no concrete. As such, learners’ clothes and uniforms were getting dirty, which was forcing parents and guardians to be spending a lot of money on soap everyday.

“This is now a thing of the past, especially for learners who will be using the renovated school block,” Kachali Nsele said.

On his part, Village Head Mtoronthara, who is under Traditional Authority Mpherembe, said the renovated block would serve as a source of motivation for learners.

“We understand that tobacco buyers, notably Alliance One, are against child labour. We will, therefore, continue ensuring that children are in school instead of having anything to do with tobacco production.

“That way, we are ensuring that we have an educated nation,” Mtoronthara explained.

The school has 610 learners.

Kasenga is another primary school that has benefitted from the firm’s initiative.

The Rumphi-based school has had a two-classroom block renovated.

Steve Chunda, who is the Alliance One Tobacco Company chairperson for Kasenga Zone, said the renovated school would attract more learners to the school, thereby facilitating the attainment of national development goals.

“Education is the pillar of development. As such, we expect improved outcomes due to exposure to classroom knowledge.

“We are thankful to Alliance One for the initiative,” he explained.

The sentiments were echoed by Village Development Committee member Lameck Kawonga, who added that children will be preoccupied with education and extracurricular activities, thereby putting their time to good use.

Head teacher for the school, Tryness Mbale, said she expected positive outcomes from the 473 learners that tap knowledge from textbooks and the school’s teachers.

“A school with necessary amenities, including standard infrastructure, creates a conducive environment for learners’ enhanced performance. We, therefore, expect positive change, in terms of learners’ performance, because those who will be using the classrooms are motivated,” Mbale said.

Harry Antonio, who is a Community Development Officer under Rumphi District Council, pointed out that it was important for tobacco-buying companies to be giving back to the community.

He said, in so doing, such firms become part of community and national development efforts.

“First of all, we are happy that you are addressing the problem of child labour. We believe that all children, including those of people who work in tobacco estates, will utilise the renovated two-classroom block and ensure that all children of school-going age are in school.

“One of the enablers of the Malawi 2063 vision is mindset change. However, for mindset change to happen, one needs to have at least basic education. Alliance One Tobacco Company’s gesture is, therefore, timely as it will facilitate knowledge acquisition among children,” Antonio said.

As learners at Kasenga are acquiring knowledge, so are those at Kalundamawe Primary School in Rumphi District.

The school’s head teacher, Emmanuel Mhango, indicated that they had since 2015, when the school was opened, been lacking proper structures.

Indeed, at the time of our visit on Friday, February 14 2025, iron sheets had been blown down on one of the classroom blocks.

Mhango said heavy rains, accompanied by heavy winds, were responsible for the damage.

However, one two-classroom block stood unshaken, and this is the one Alliance One Tobacco Company has just handed over to the school authorities.

“This is a junior primary school which was established to reduce the distance that children were covering to get to the nearest public primary school. Small children cannot cover 10 kilometres or so on foot just to acquire an education, hence the school was opened in our area.

“However, it did not have proper structures, hence we are grateful to Alliance One for remembering us. It is the first time a private sector player has reached out to us with anything, let alone a renovated school block like the one these people are handing over to us,” Mhango explained.

Taking his turn, Group Village Headman Mayaka said community members had been trying their best to erect structures but were struggling to raise enough resources, hence they welcomed Alliance One’s gesture.

“We are hardworking people who want the best for our children. However, for our goals to be met, we need partners like these. We pledge to take care of the structures,” Mayaka said.

Meanwhile, Alliance One Tobacco Company Corporate Affairs Officer Ben Kawonga has said the firm is a “responsible corporate sector player”, hence its decision to invest in the future of children through investments in education.

“We, as Alliance One Tobacco Company, have invested heavily in corporate social responsibility activities. We have, for example, invested resources in either classroom block construction or renovation in 12 schools in the current year of our operations, which started on April 1 2024 and will end on March 31 this year.

“In terms of the total amount we have invested in CSR [corporate social responsibility] in various projects, including health, education, among others, we are talking about $280,000 (about K485.3 million). This is our way of giving back to the community,” Kawonga said.

He added that they would continue investing in various sectors, including that of education, so that Malawi could meet its development goals.

“When we operate in areas, we also look at community members’ needs because we want to make a positive difference in people’s lives. We will continue being a responsible corporate sector player as we seek to ensure that we, as a nation, are growing together,” Kawonga said.

The idea, he says, is to ensure that dilapidated classrooms no longer have a pervasive presence across the country.