By Loness GwazangaLilongwe — Residents who live in slums of the country's cities say it is high time Government started including them in the country's developmental activities if their livelihoods are to change for the better.
Speaking Saturday in Lilongwe during World Habitat Day commemorations, Lilongwe Urban Poor People's Network (LUPPEN) representative, Harry Mamba said after being sidelined for a long time, it was now time to celebrate with people living in the slums as they are the hidden wealth of Malawian cities.
Mamba said it was pathetic that after doing all commendable works, the urban poor person is not recognized or rewarded at the end of the day.
"Imagine, without a woman selling airtime along the road, what would you do when you run out of credit? Without Kabaza so conveniently waiting at the minibus stop, would you walk to final destination? Where would you get your Newspaper if a seller didn't stop at your car window every morning? Without the urban poor, who would have built your house, laid down water pipes, remove waste from our cities? Who would guard our companies, stores and the beautiful houses that we have?" wondered Mamba.
He then emphasized that people should stop looking down on slum dwellers as they are neither lazy nor confusionists.
In his remarks, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Bright Msaka acknowledged that slum dwellers are always sidelined when it comes to developmental activities. He, therefore, called for concerted efforts in order for them to also have good houses, clean and portable water and social services.
"I have heard and seen how much you are going through and am disappointed. Government will take a step so that your daily living is positively changed. In addition, the president has promised to construct ten water kiosks at Mgona and another ten at Senti before the end of this year," said Msaka.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative, Mia Seppo also described slum dwellers as important people that play a good role in the development of the country, thus the need for government to take action and provide them what they basically need in their daily living.
Speaking earlier, Deputy Mayor for Lilongwe City Kwame Bandawe assured the slum dwellers that the council was doing everything possible to collaborate with stakeholders involved so that living conditions in the slums are improved for the better.
World Habitat Day is observed on the first Monday of October. This year, the day was celebrated under the theme Voice of the Slums.