For old times sake, erstwhile students of Bwaila secondary school, who left the school in 1994 has had a rare opportunity recently of getting together in three decades.
OGOS 94, as they popularly call themselves – as they were the outgoing students in 1994, met at their old school premises to celebrate together and do some catch up.
The group also organised the meet up in order to discuss on how they can assist their old school in one of the many areas that the school is struggling in.
“Look at him. He used to be this thin (pointing at a small peach tree nearby) in those days but now he’s put on unnecessary weight and is posing a funny potbelly” joked one Mtisunge Mipando while pointing at the group’s chair, Patrick Ulaya
Members had travelled from across the country and treated themselves to a brai and a variety of food and drinks while listening to old school music which used to sending them crazy in those days.
At the end of the meet up they agreed to liaise with the school’s main alumni committee in order to be guided on the area this group can assist.
“It was a great reunion. We were reminded of of our youth days back in the days and how fun it was to be at Bwaila some 30 plus years ago” reminced one of the organisers of the gathering, Deborah Mitochi,
Another organiser, Chipi Haji, added,: “it’s pleasing to note that Bwaila has produced leaders in both government and private sector.
“We have organisation directors here and not forgetting successful business models. This just proves that we were moulded well here at Bwaila”
Bwaila secondary school, one of the most popular schools in the 80’s and 90s, used to be a boarding school since its inception but was later turned into a day double shift institution.
Ironically, the last class to leave the schools as boarders was this particular cohort.
Opening its doors in 1962, Bwaila Secondary School is a proud producers of notable big names in various walks of life in the country.
Some of the few Bwaila Secondary School products include, who includes former cabinet minister Ralph Jooma, former cabinet minister Jappie Mhango, Engineer Charles Msusa and soccer greats in the names of the legendary national team players such as Young Chimodzi, Nicholas Pumani, and the late Ganizani Masiye.
Other footballers national produced by Bwaila secondary school, among many others, include: Chite Malemia, Austin Nyondo, James Chimphepo, and Willie Chabwinja.
Also, among the former Bwaila secondary students include South African based Lawyer, Edwin Mthipela Banda and Malawi’s pioneer afro-pop and RnB silky-smooth songster, Henry Chindime, popularly known by his stage moniker, Bleek, a member of the old-school singing sensation duo, Legends.
Bwaila stands out as one of the best secondary schools when it comes to producing football players as all Lilongwe football teams such as Civo, United, Silver Strikers, Mitco, CCDC, Cold Storage among others had their star players schooling at Bwaila.
“It was a great reunion. We were reminded of of our youth days.”
Deborah Mitochi
One of the organisers of the gathering,