Murmures

Nampak Malawi, a company that produces and supplies corrugated cartons used for packaging, Wednesday donated 10 guitars worth K2.1 million to Blantyre Girls Primary School.

The move by the company was inspired by an article written in the one of the local newspaers on November 18 last year where it was indicated that Blantyre Girls Primary School were promised 30 guitars by South African singer and guitarist Zahara which have not yet been delivered.

Zahara visited Blantyre Girls Primary School in 2013, courtesy of Mango Entertainment where after interacting with the students she promised them guitars.

“Zahara’s promise has not been fulfilled up to now and so we thought that we could come in and assist the school with a donation of these guitars today. We did not want the expectations of the students and teachers to die,” said Nampak’s Marketing Manager Nyakhoko Nsona.

Nsona added that with the help of Johan Vanhoutte, who is a Belgian volunteer and part of the board members of the Music Development Centre, the students at Blantyre Girls Primary School having been having music lessons.

“We learnt through Johan Vanhouttee that you have been having music lessons using one guitar. You normally borrow seven guitars from Phoenix School every Wednesday for your music classes and after lessons you take the guitars back. This is not practical and that is why we thought we should come in to assist,” said Nsona.

He said that Nampak Malawi is situated in Makata Industrial site which is very close to Blantyre Girls and so they thought of assisting the children who are near them.

“We heard your plight as music education is very important as part of a school curricula. So we are covering this as part of our social corporate responsibility,” he said.

Nsona said with the guitars, they would want to see the development of music in schools in the country grow from strength to strength.

“It is deplorable to learn of musicians or organisations making promises that they cannot fulfill. We trust these guitars will go a long way in assisting the school in its music classes and we would like to urge other organisations to assist needy schools that require music equipment for their lessons,” he said.

Blantyre Girls Primary School Deputy Headteacher Ruth Nambuzi hailed Nampak for the donation saying it will go a long way in improving their music lessons.

“We had one guitar and now we have 11. Students will now be able to practice well. Zahara promised us 30 guitars but up to now we have got nothing,” said Nambuzi.

She said they cannot reach out to Zahara as they have no contacts but they consulted Nation Publications Limited which promised to assist them.

“We are still waiting that one day the guitars will come but for now we are happy that Nampak has given us the 10 guitars. And we are also thankful to Johan Vanhoutte through the Music Development Centre for making it possible contacting.