Zomba City North Member of Parliament Bester Awali has unveiled plans to transform the neglected Matawale Market in Zomba City into a community day secondary school to improve access to education for learners in the area.
Awali said the proposed conversion follows consultations with members of the public, who have expressed interest in seeing the underutilised market put to better use.
In an interview, the legislator said the initiative is aimed at addressing educational needs in the constituency by bringing secondary school services closer to learners.
He disclosed that discussions surrounding the proposed transformation have been ongoing since 2022, with several considerations made to establish the feasibility of the project.
Awali said the decision to consider converting the market into a school was also influenced by its continued underutilisation, which has left the infrastructure vulnerable to vandalism.
He observed that the market structures have deteriorated over time due to vandalism, raising concerns about the continued wastage of public infrastructure that could otherwise serve a meaningful purpose.
The legislator believes that transforming the facility into a learning institution would provide an opportunity to restore the infrastructure while responding to the growing demand for secondary education in the area.
Meanwhile, Zomba City Council Chief Executive Officer Archangel Bakolo said the council was aware that political leaders had been engaging community members on the proposed conversion of the market.
Bakolo’s remarks indicate that the local authority is aware of the discussions surrounding the proposal, although further details on the council’s position and the implementation process are yet to be established.
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