This article was originally published on Malawi24 ">Malawi24, Malawi's #1 independent news platform. Mangochi man has used K35 million own money to build a mosque Read the full article and more Malawi news at Age is no barrier! 86-year-old builds K35m mosque ">Malawi24 — Breaking news, politics, business, sport and entertainment from Malawi and Africa, updated 24/7.
An 86-year-old man in Mangochi has challenged perceptions about the role of older people in society after spending K35 million of his own money to build a mosque for his community.
Chikhwaya Kamuloni, from Monkey Bay, built the mosque in Chilombo Village and formally handed it over to the community during a ceremony held on Saturday.
The ceremony attracted people from the surrounding areas, including Muslim sheikhs from Cape Maclear, Msaka and Monkey Bay.
Kamuloni said he started the project in September last year and financed the construction using his personal money.
“I started building this mosque in September last year, and I used my own money. I did not receive any financial assistance for the project,” he said.
Kamuloni said the project was also a way of thanking God for preserving his life and allowing him to reach the age of 86.
The mosque was built after Kamuloni observed that people in the area had been using a makeshift structure as a place of worship.
He previously said the new mosque was intended to reduce the distance villagers travelled to find a suitable place to pray.
Kamuloni’s contribution has also brought attention to the abilities and potential of older people in communities, where age can sometimes be associated with dependence or inability to contribute.
Older people can continue to contribute to their families and communities through financial support, leadership, knowledge, skills and community initiatives, depending on their circumstances and abilities.
Kamuloni’s project provides one example of an older person using personal resources to respond to a community need rather than withdrawing from community life.
In Malawi, where older people can face harmful stereotypes and, in some cases, accusations of witchcraft, advocates for older people’s rights have continued to call for their dignity, protection and meaningful participation in society.
Kamuloni’s mosque now stands as a community facility, while his contribution demonstrates that advancing age does not automatically prevent a person from making a meaningful contribution to those around them.
