By Stella Mwalwanda and Anna Mkandawire

Mzuzu, December 19, Mana: Following official launch of construction of Entrepreneurship Training and Incubation Centre (ETIC) at Mzuzu University (Mzuni) by President Lazarus Chakwera last week, it is anticipated that the project will create employment opportunities to people around and away from the institution.

The project which is being constructed by DEC Construction Company and funded by World Bank through SAVE project   will employ over 150 people, both skilled and unskilled laborers for 14 months.

In an interview on Thursday, Project Consultant for DEC Construction Company, Ellard Malonda said that the company’s priority is to employ people from around Mzuni.

“We want everyone to feel that they own the project by employing them to do various construction works and we will be proud to work with them,” said Malonda.

He added that at the moment recruitment of employees is in progress on daily basis though the project is in its initial phase and that currently the company has nonskilled laborers.

“We have recruited 42 people so far, 15 of them are females so that we achieve the 40 to 60 percent gender balance,” said Malonda.

One of the workers at the construction site Blessings Chavala said he was happy that the project is taking place around his area.

“I am assured that I will easily fend for my family since I am now employed,” said Chavala.

One of the job seekers, Daniel Muliya,   who is a builder and happen to be at the site expecting to be employed said that he is hopeful that he will be employed as recruitment is an ongoing process.