On 31st January 2022, the Housing Development Board Chairman, Alhaj Akil Hirji, accompanied by Br Mohamed Moledina, Housing Board Projects Coordinator and Alhaj Hasnain Sherally, Chief Operating Officer of Africa Federation, made a visit to Lilongwe, Malawi.
The aim of the visit was to meet the Jamaat officials, inspect the site physically and meet the relevant people to plan for the development of the new Center for the Jamaat on the plot that has been kindly donated by His Excellency Alhaj Mohamedraza Saboor’s family to Africa Federation.
Having faced multiple challenges over the past two years, due to Covid-19 pandemic and travel restrictions etc., this visit was long overdue as the need for the project to take off has increased as the Community in Lilongwe is growing and the current facilities cannot accommodate the needs, like the Madressah, Imambargha etc.
The Jafri Muslim Association of Lilongwe (JMA), Malawi which is registered institution in Malawi since May 2011, currently comprises of 40 families and 150 heads in total, during the visit the Housing Board and the Jamaat Managing Committee met on several occasions, including visit to the site of the new center and meetings with several consultants. The meetings were fruitful which provided clear picture to the Board to identify the current and future requirements of the Community and to design the new center accordingly aligned with these parameters.
The visit also provided an opportunity to meet the local contractors and understand in depth the Government requirements and processes used by the contractors. The Jamaat arranged meetings with three Class 1 contractors. The Board members and Jamaat Officials together visited few projects undertaken by the said contractors to understand the quality of works, capabilities and capacity of the contractors; along with their working standards.
The Board and Jamaat Managing Committee led by Chairman Alhaj Salim bhai Dodhia visited few suppliers of building materials to understand the market position and quality of materials available to assist in making decisions for the project.
The Delegation also met with the Jamaat Managing Committee members at the present center, the engagement with the Jamaat was refreshing and most welcome after long periods of lockdowns around Africa. The members were delighted and grateful for this new project and also gave their suggestions on the new center. They were briefed on the AFED projects and rent to own scheme which was well received. Members of Lilongwe Jamaat thanked Akil bhai for sharing the information, which will benefit the Jamaat in the future.
It was gratifying to note that members of the Managing Committee were keen to know about Africa Federation’s vision and goals which encompasses all Jamaat under Africa Federation. Since JMA became members of the Federation in 2019 they have been attending the Supreme Council Sessions gaining more experience and knowledge of the Community and how the Federation operates in the region, and, with the ongoing efforts of development in areas such as Education, Internal and External Tabligh, Health, Economic and Housing Development and in other areas.
They also expressed their appreciation to the Chairman Alhaj Shabir Najafi and the office bearers of Africa Federation for their vision and support towards the project and applauded the leadership of AFED. They extended their invitation to other Boards of AFED to visit their Jamaat.
The new center of the Jamaat is now under designing and development stages, the Housing Board and the Jamaat Committee are working hand in hand to ensure that this project can take of at the earliest so as to serve the needs of the Jamaat.
The center will include two buildings; one building with prayer halls for gents and ladies, Imambargah (Hussainiyya) for gents and ladies and indoor sports/other facilities and second building with Madrasah classes, Ghusalkhana, Jamaat office and other amenities like washrooms etc, while the remaining area of the plot will cater for parking and outdoor sports activities.
We encourage the members of the Community around the globe to support this project of our Jamaat in Lilongwe, Malawi.
For your contribution towards this Project, please contact the Africa Federation Secretariat on secretariat@africafederation.org
Housing Development Board
Africa Federation
25th February 2022