NBM staff pose with the some of the vetarans and MDF staff- photos by Benjamin Maona

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) Plc on Wednesday visited war veterans at their home in Zomba and donated goods worth K2.5 million.
The bank’s service centre manager for the district, Maureen Gwembere said the visit is part of celebrating the poppy week in the country which was observed a couple of weeks ago.

She said despite the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, there was need to fulfil the programme as it is done every year.

“Each year we organise this function to appreciate what the war veterans did. Our main aim is to celebrate with them. We all know that their income is low and they need support from Malawians to make their ends meet. Since we started supporting them, there is an impact because they need the love, the care, to be cheered up and they are happy with it,” Gwembere said.

One of the veterans, Staff Sergeant James Matupa, 88, said the support will go a long way in addressing some of their challenges which includes food as they can not fend for themselves.

“We are grateful for the support as it will compliment the one provided to us by the Malawi Defense Force (MDF). We are well-taken care of here, but sometimes we fall short of some basic needs since our monthly allowance is not enough to cater for our personal needs,” he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Ulunji Mkandawire representing MDF at the function said the veterans receive K50,000 each every month as allowance from the money deducted from the serving soldiers.

Mkandawire then commended NBM for the support they offer to the veterans every year.

Some of the goods donated included bags of feltiliser, maize seeds, sugar, rice, cooking oil, salt, maize flour and others.

Group photo after the event

According to Mkandawire, the war veterans' compound has 10 soldiers after six died this year.

In total, Malawi has 400 war veterans across the country, but others opt to live in their respective homes.

 

Source: https://www.kulinji.com/article/news/2020/nbm-remembers-war-veterans