In 2006 the mother of the Paramount Chief of the Chewa Nation approached board members of the Malawi Project and requested the Project expand into Zambia. The geographical lines between the tribal borders in much of Africa do not coincide with the lines drawn during the days of colonialism. This is true of Malawi and the Chewa Nation. While Malawi has a population of approximately 13,000,000 and geographically is bordered as a north-south nation, the Chewa Nation covers a land mass east and west from the center 1/3 Malawi well over into the nation of Zambia, with a portion of the nation extending into Mozambique. This gives the Chewa Nation a population of 20,000,000. The Paramount Chewa Chief reigns over the people in much of the central part of Malawi but is actually based 100 miles inside Zambia. It is with this in mind that Project officials have viewed the opportunities that come with the similarities in language, culture and need since the request came from the Chief’s mother to come across the border and help in Zambia.
Missionaries Also Call for Assistance
Early talks to achieve this have been fruitful and the possibility of establishing medical clinics in central and eastern Zambia is moving to the next level. Early in 2009 an on-site evaluation will take place within the Zambian medical personnel in order to determine the exact needs in the areas being explored. Plans then call for board members from the Malawi Project to go to Zambia by mid-year to hold meetings at the Mapepe Mission to establish the next step. The program is expected to also include the delivery of medical supplies to a major hospital in the capital city in order to assist the government of Zambia by giving medical assistance to one of their largest hospitals. Like hospitals in neighboring Malawi there is a serious shortage of supplies and medicines, as well as other facilities as the opportunity presents itself.
This additional focus does not diminish the emphasis on any of the ongoing programs in Malawi. It simply enlarges the outreach and influence of a work that is attempting to make a significant impact on this portion of Africa.