By Steven Godfrey Mkweteza
The newly elected deputy mayor for Blantyre city, councillor Isaac Jomo Osman has advised the street kids to emulate his example of transforming his street life into a development and responsible citizen of the country.
Speaking in an interview just after the elections held at the Blantyre city council offices on Monday, Osman said it was a pity to see many street kids becoming resistant to transform their lives into development and responsible citizens but to remain violent and fearful citizens of the country.
“They need to borrow leaf from me. I have been a street kids for a very long time but I decided to change my life into someone people can incorporate into the society,” he said the DPP councillor.
Osman said he will make sure that he helped his boss to make the city clean from street kids by introducing programs that help to transform their lives.
“People in the city of Blantyre need to start walking peacefully than ever before in the streets. Will put programs for self-sustenance to stop them from begging or relying on snatching residents wares such as money, “he promised
Osman also advised the residents not encourage the street kids by sponsoring them to be breaking into people’s properties and give them money, saying the tendency encourage them to remain in the streets as they see this as viable ventures.
Councillor Isaac Jomo Osman is a renowned businessman in Blantyre and he owns Mtopwa mens football and ladies football teams among others.
During the elections, the vocal councillor secured 11 votes of the 30 votes cast.
On the other hand, former deputy mayor, councillor Joseph Makwinja of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been elected Blantyre city mayor after amassing 16 votes against 14 votes of councillor Getrude Chirambo of DPP.
Councillor Barnaba Kanojerera of UTM got 10 votes against 9 votes of councillor Gerald Lipikwe of DPP.
In his acceptance speech, Mayor Joseph Makwinja said his first job is to set up the city boundaries to CBDs and establish a city centre that do not business time.
“In short, just give me the first 100 days and you will see wonders in the city than ever before. I can’t promise what I can’t fulfill like what others do,” he said
Former mayor Wild Ndipo said he was impressed with the first ever peaceful elections in the history.
He said as the longest serving mayor in the country, he thought of giving others a chance to head the mayoral position.
“My advice to the newly elected people is that these are strategic positions and need to address residents’ concerns as well as working together for the common goals,” said Ndipo.
According to Ndipo, he has left the position a happy man after achieving what he wanted to do.
