Aspiring Member of Parliament for Nankhaka Constituency, Grace Chupa, has donated MK1 million to the Area 18 community group to aid the long-overdue renovation of the Area 18 Puma Filling Station–Chejika School road, a stretch notorious for its poor condition and inaccessibility.
The financial contribution, delivered on Friday through her representative Veronica Chupa, marks a major step forward in the community-led initiative to rehabilitate the dilapidated road, which requires an estimated MK1.5 million to fully restore.
“The group has been collecting small contributions from concerned individuals to support the area,” said Veronica Chupa. “Grace, as a resident of Area 18 and an independent aspiring MP, was deeply moved by the group’s dedication and decided to support this cause.”
Dubbed by some locals as the ‘shadow MP’ due to her increasing involvement in grassroots initiatives, Chupa’s donation has significantly empowered the Area 18 community group to take concrete action in addressing the infrastructural challenges faced by residents.
Leonard Phiri, Chairperson of the Area 18 group, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the gesture. “We are thrilled to receive these funds. Previously, we relied on contributions from volunteers, but they were not enough. With this MK1 million, we are now in a much better position to begin the work,” he said.
He further emphasized that the money would be used transparently and that all stakeholders—including the donor—would be kept informed throughout the process. “This will finally ease the hardships our people have faced for so long due to the bad condition of the road,” he added.
The Area 18 group is now mobilizing resources to raise the remaining funds needed to complete the renovation.
