KUHeS -Lilongwe hits Double: Signs Contract; Hands Over Site

Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) – Lilongwe has hit a brace in a single day - signed a contract with a contractor and handed over the construction site. 

KUHeS Lilongwe is the first of the nine public universities under the Skills for A Vibrant Economy (SAVE) Project to hit a double feat in one day. KUHeS Lilongwe is also the second to handover construction site to a contractor after Mzuzu University (MZUNI) four weeks ago – on 30 October, 2024.

At the cost of MK8.5 billion KUHeS Lilongwe is constructing a two-storey teaching complex with classrooms, science labs and Open Distance e-Learning (ODeL) hub.

Secretary for Education Dr Mangani Katundu who co-chairs the SAVE Project Steering Committee (PSC) said the signing of the contract and handing over of the site was remarkable and historical in the history of KUHeS as a beneficiary and the SAVE Project.

“Today, our dreams have come true,” he beamed at the official handover saying: “universities should be places that promote learning by increasing access with quality.”

He requested the contractor Zhengtai Group Limited to work with KUHeS Lilongwe and the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).

Vice Chancellor for KUHeS Lilongwe, Professor Macpherson Mallewa said the university has been anxiously waiting to see the state of the art modern teaching facility finally spring up from the ground after many years of bemoaning of poor infrastructure.

“It doesn’t get any better than this,” he beamed amidst jeering and clapping from the KUHeS team as he envisioned: 

“In a year’s time, we’ll be here to celebrate the handover” in reference to when KUHeS will receive the completed structure from the contractor.

The contractor, Chen Xiao Feng of Zhengtai Group Limited, promised to start construction in three days and to handover the completed structure on November 2, 2025 – in one year’s time.

Announced Feng: “We are committed to exceeding your expectation.”

Project Manager for SAVE Grenard Mkwende committed to work with KUHeS Lilongwe all the way to the completion of the structure. He said:

“It has taken too long to reach this far,” in reference to when the SAVE Project rolled out three years ago and that handover of construction site was only taking place in 2024. He said, as project manager, he did not want construction to be delayed due to delayed or no payments at all. He stated that:

“Under SAVE, it will not happen.”

“If it happens, it means we are not working together,” he said and challenged the contractor and KUHeS to immediately begin to plan when they want their first tranche of funds.

 “There is need for lead time, so let’s plan together. We need to move with impetus.”

A total of 31 institutions are participating in the SAVE Project. They include nine public universities - Mzuzu University (MZUNI); University of Malawi (UNIMA); Kamuzu College of Health Sciences (KUHeS) (CoM); Kamuzu College of Health Sciences (KUHeS) (KCN); Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR); Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Domasi College of Education (DCE), and Nalikule College of Education (NCE). Seven national technical colleges include Livingstonia Technical College; Mzuzu Technical College; Lilongwe Technical College; Salima Technical College; Namitete Technical College; Nasawa Technical College and Soche Technical College and 15 community technical colleges across Malawi. 

The SAVE Project is funded by the World Bank for US$100 million and implemented over five years since 2021.