ZEC's Relief and Development department was created to bring aid to refugees who fled to Malawi during the 1980s to escape the civil war in Mozambique and that work continued until the people returned to their home country in the early 1990s. The department then changed its focus towards assisting local marginalised communities lacking necessities like water, food and health care. Most of Malawi's people live in rural areas and are for the most part poverty stricken.

In this way the Church is undertaking holistic development in a Gospel context.

Temporary shelter for flood victims

ZAMBESI MISSION is helping ZEC in a number of its current projects. These include -

EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Several times in recent years, notably 2002-3 and 2005-6, ZM has assisted ZEC in the distribution of money, grain, seed corn and fertilizer following the failure of the rains.

 
These photos, taken in August 2005, show a totally empty grain store
with the next harvest not due for eight months!

ZEC's current General Secretary, Rev Connex Ijalasi,
distributing relief supplies during the 2002 crisis

It is also important to remember that a large proportion of the population has no regular reliable food supply. At best a family, which is frequently extended with orphans and needy relatives, will have a small piece of land from which to eke out supplies.

This means that every year there are people who are critically short of food in the months approaching the next harvest. Every year someone needs help!

In Africa It doesn't take a famine to cause a food crisis!

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

This situation highlights the need to develop varied and sustainable food supplies and ZEC has several schemes underway. The work is headed up by Thomas Ngwira and includes projects with fish, bees, poultry and goats. Also trials with organic farming and nurseries for trees and new crops.

Thomas Ngwira at one of the community fish ponds

ADULT LITERACY

Statistics show a very high level of illiteracy in the country particularly among women. ZEC classes are well attended by older women although men are showing greater interest now. Encouragingly, they often want to attend so that they can read and understand the Bible.

Ladies class at ZEC Mzimba

FORESTATION

ZEC's contribution to redressing the alarming deforestation of the country is inevitably a small one but Thomas Ngwira has nursery projects at Ntonda and these will be developed as funds become available.

INCOMING GENERATING PROJECTS

These projects give villagers supplementary sources of income. This is done at present on a very small scale through loans and some training in business management.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

ZEC's Education Department is currently helping a number of young people to obtain training in business studies,accounting, sales, marketing, computing, driving and electrical, plumbing and carpentry skills.

Students studying accounting and marketing in Blantyre

WATER AND SANITATION

One of the greatest needs in rural communities across the world is for a reliable supply of clean water and, with over 90% of the people living in very basic conditions in rural areas, Malawi is more in need than most countries.

A typical water source in rural Malawi

Presently ZEC/ZM is not directly involved in the costly work of sinking borehole but from time to time we are able to contribute to the many projects of The Aquaid Lifeline Fund with which we are in close fellowship.

AIDS AWARENESS

With the problem reaching epidemic proportions in Malawi, the department has formed a number of anti AIDS campaign groups to teach the people (at ZEC clinics and Churches) about the danger of AIDS and the importance of God honouring relationships.

It is also planned to form home based care groups to make sure that people who are sick, and often facing discrimination, are properly cared for. Volunteers are to be trained for this task.