CHAIRMAN’S REPORT: YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2026
In the year 2025/26 Malawi has experienced difficult situations due to climate change which brought floods in the Zomba area with homes destroyed and people living in camps. There have been fuel and other shortages due to the lack of foreign exchange and many people in the cities and towns were unable to purchase maize due to a rise of 28% in the cost of living. The situation improved in 2026 when the President reduced the price of maize; also, this year there was a good harvest in most areas of Malawi.
I am glad to report that the warm-hearted generosity of individuals, organisations and churches enabled a total of £17,376 to be raised. During the year the Board agreed a number of life changing projects and £36,030,00 (drawing down our reserves) was sent to Zomba. These projects ranged from an Integrated Village Development Project, to Likuni Phala for Child Care Centres, to secondary and tertiary scholarships and to special-needs education in both urban and rural areas. You will find details of these projects and donations in the handout you received on your arrival. I trust that you will be encouraged by the positive outcomes for many people in the Zomba area.
In the past year we sent two parcels of reading classes to Malawi by post, and these were distributed to 130 people of all ages through Ruth Nyirenda, the ZAP Administrator.
The closure of the Zomba Action Project (ZAP)
The closure of ZAP was agreed at the AGM of ZAP held on the 9 October 2025. Subsequently, I have written to the following persons: the Mayor, the Chief Executive Officer, the Finance Officer of the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and the supporters of ZAP over the past twenty years.
In Zomba I have written to the Chief Executive Officer of Zomba City Council, Drs Nellie and Zondiwe Mbano as Co-ordinator and President, to Maxwell Mjathu the Chairman, to Benjamin Khoswe the Honorary Treasurer of ZAP and to Charles Mukiwa the Director of Emmanuel International in Malawi (EIM) advising them that ZAP would close on 31 March 2026)
Since January we have worked towards the closure of ZAP and in February funding of £11,995 and in March £5,565 was sent to Zomba for agreed projects leaving ZAP Coleraine with £1,261.19 in its Danske Bank Account. The Treasurer of ZAP Zomba distributed these funds and at the end of May the two National Bank Accounts were closed. It is expected that the Zomba Action Project will close in July/August with the Northern Ireland Charity Commission being informed.
To our colleagues in ZAP Zomba, who have given their services voluntarily for the benefit of the most needy people in the Zomba area, I give thanks for all that they have done for the Charity. They have monitored the projects and reported on their delivery on our behalf. Thanks to the Hon. Treasurer for providing excellent accounts for the last twenty years and to EIM for delivering our Village Development Projects and food programmes. We appreciate what we have learned over the years about life in Malawi from our friends in Zomba and we send them our best wishes for the future.
Finally, I say thanks to the members of our Management Board for promoting and managing the Affairs of the Charity and for their years of service as they worked to provide projects that would benefit the most disadvantaged people in the Zomba area.
In conclusion, I thank you all for your attendance at this AGM. I am delighted that we can celebrate the work of ZAP over the past twenty-three years.