I started to call Mabvuto a banana several weeks ago because he made me so angry that I thought he must be crazy. Somehow calling him a banana made me laugh and feel somewhat better about his crazy behaviour.

I have just returned from another trip to Ntcheu. This time, I met with Mabvuto and several others including the cooks and the CBO chair. In front of these people I explained why Mabvuto was no longer welcome to b a part of the day care. Of course he showed no shame or remorse. He read his letter while I explained it’s contents to the others. He suggested that it was “not proper” for me to read the letter aloud to them in his presence. I guess he must feel some shame at his behaviour.

Each time I go to Ntcheu I learn something more disgusting about this man. This time I learned that the land he purchased for me at a cost of approximately k170 000 was actually only purchased for k40 000.

This means that he took almost $1000as his finder’s fee. He did show us the land and it is in fact mine. It is close to the current day care and is agood enough size for a garden and possibly a house if ever I want to do that.

One of the children, Maggie is HIV positive. She is in grade 4 and failed her end of term exams this time. I was not happy to hear this because she is a bright girl and speaks English quite well. When I found out the reason for her failure tears came to my eyes. The A.R.V.’s are not working as they should. This is because her diet is not nutritious. Mabvuto’s with-holding of food has caused Maggie to be ill and miss a great deal of school.

He was rarely giving the children proper food. Often he gave them a small amount of beans and nsima (maize) and nothing else. When he gave them meat it was bones with the meat removed. When he gave them vegetables it was barely enough for one person let alone 9.

He is now completely out of the project. He has beeninstructed to remove phone numbers from his phone and never to visit the place again. When we told the children of his dismissal they applauded.

We spoke to the officials at the Social Welfare Office. They suggested we start fresh by going through the CBO. This CBO is a group of villagers whose goal is to help those in need. They are a voluntary organization and have already established bank accounts and a constitution. We will meet with them next week to discuss details.

I want Azikiwe to be part of the project and he should be the one distributing the money. I will not filter money through strangers. I will also have online access to the bank account so that I can monitor the money being taken out.

We have established a new menu for the children which includes a variety of food. Hopefully this will improve their health and energy levels. They will still come twice a day for meals but these meals will be more balanced than in the past.

The cooks have received the resources they need to make their jobs easier. They now have a new charcoal burner, basins, pots and plates.

They had these things before but everything here is of such poor quality that they were in very bad shape.

I think everyone is now happy and hopeful about the future of the Day Care. Everyone is happy and relieved that the banana has now been peeled and mashed.

Around the community the word is out about his behaviour. He is embarrassed that people are speaking of him but he seems not to be ashamed of what he did to those kids. I’m glad to see tha last of him.

Now we move forward into a better future full of plans and hopes. It will work this time.

Tags: ita, itatu, itatu orphan care, jennifer douma, malawi, orphan care

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