MANAonline
NGO hailed for environmental restoration efforts in Chiradzulu
By Emily Kaliwo
Chiradzulu, January 23, Mana: Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources for Chiradzulu District, Dennis Zingeni, has hailed One Acre Fund for its efforts in ensuring that environment is conserved in the district.
Zingeni made the remarks at Ndata Community Based Childcare Centre (CBCC) in Traditional Authority (TA) Sandiraki recently where One Acre Fund distributed tree seedlings to farmers to plant during this year’s tree planting season.
He said while government is implementing programmes to restore environment, it is pleasing to see non-governmental organizations (NGO) such as One Acre Fund complementing government’s efforts in mobilizing communities to take keen interest in issues of afforestation, environment and climate change.
Zingeni, therefore, urged beneficiaries to take good care of the tree seedlings so that they achieve the intended purpose considering that the NGO has spent a lot of money for the benefit of people in Chiradzulu.
“You should also plant fruit trees around your respective homes for food in your families and to boost your income after selling the fruits,” Zingeni said.
One of the beneficiaries, Lufina Matabwa said with the tree seedlings, they will be able to restore environment which has been degraded.
“What is required of us is to manage the trees as recommended,” she said.
Chiradzulu One Acre Fund Government Relations Officer, Bertha Namelo, said the NGO came up with the intervention as it has also heavily been affected by the destruction of the environment which has resulted in farmers getting low yields due to lack of soil fertility.
"The tree seedlings which we are distributing today have the possibility to restore the environment and boost farmers’ income after selling trees. The objective is to ensure that farmers are benefiting through environmental restoration,” said Namelo.
TA Sandiraki thanked One Acre Fund for choosing her area and promised the organization that she will mobilize her subjects to look after the seedlings to ensure high survival rate.
About 12,436 tree seedlings have been distributed, which includes Msangu, Mtangatanga and Kesha wa Milimo, to 493 farmers in Ngalawesa Village.
The NGO expects to distribute over 432, 000 tree seedlings in Chiradzulu during the 2024 tree planting season.
COWLHA set to address needs of children with HIV in Chiradzulu
By Chilungamo Missi
Chiradzulu, January 23, Mana: Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (COWLHA) is geared to address the needs of children living with HIV in Chiradzulu through a newly approved council project dubbed Bringing Kids Living with HIV to Care.
COWLHA Programmes Manager, Harry Madukani made the remarks on Tuesday during a District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting where he introduced the new project.
Madukani said the two-year project targets under 14 children saying, for a long time, HIV response for the age group has been neglected.
The project has four components, the first of which is testing.
“We will be going into the communities using mentor mothers and community health workers to identify and test the children for HIV,” said Madukani.
He said once tested positive, children will be referred to health facilities so that they can be put into care and ensure that those that are on treatment do not default.
The project will also support pregnant and lactating mothers.
Apart from Chiradzulu, the project will be implemented in Thyolo and Nkhata Bay districts which have been selected based on the highest percentage of pediatric HIV infections.
“As of June 2023 Directorate of HIV, STI and viral Hepatitis in Chiradzulu registered 1,832 kids under 14 years,” said Madukani.
Chiradzulu District Hospital Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Coordinator, Carol Chipanda, underscored the importance of the project in the district saying Ministry of Health has intensified efforts to reach the youth through youth friendly services in the district where HIV testing and counseling services, among others, are offered.
Chiradzulu District Principal Nutrition, HIV and AIDS Officer, Loveness Chikumba, said the project will be impactful in the district because the organization, in collaboration with the council, has previously implemented successful activities on community AIDS groups.
COWLHA will implement the project in the district through Foundation for Community Support Organization which is based in Traditional Authority (TA) Mpama in the district.
Chakwera dates southern region chiefs
By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
Blantyre, January 23, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has commended chiefs in the country for their role in fostering development.
Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda disclosed this on Tuesday at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre after President Chakwera held a closed door meeting with paramount chiefs, senior traditional authorities, traditional authorities and sub traditional authorities from the Southern Region.
The Minister said development starts at the grassroots’ level observing that the country’s development depends on chiefs.
In December last year, President Chakwera met chiefs from the Eastern Region in Mangochi.
"Sustainability of development in our communities relies on chiefs because they are government’s eyes to initiate development. Therefore, for us to enjoy as a country and move forward, chiefs must be motivated and be aligned to what government is doing on ground.
“For that reason, it was imperative for the President to meet chiefs to appreciate their role and challenges, " he said.
In her remarks, Senior Chief Chikumbu of Mulanje hailed the President for engaging them.
She said during all chiefs have pledged to work with government and foster development in all places to benefit their subjects.
Parents advised to take interest in children's education
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, January 22, Mana: Salima District Youth Officer, Jessie Mwansambo has advised parents to take interest in their children's education by constantly checking their school notebooks for progress and performance.
Mwansambo made the call on Monday during a donation at Nakondwa Community Based Organization (CBO) located in the area of Senior Chief Kalonga in the district sponsored by a British national, John Midgley, who assisted 75 learners with note books and pens.
Mwansambo emphasized on the need for collaborative efforts to educate children.
She said stakeholders, such as Midgley, are doing a commendable job towards technical expertise where as parents have cross cutting roles of providing and also supervising progress of children's performance.
"It is worrisome to note that performance of children in the district has been below par for some time and this might be attributed to cultural beliefs such as early marriages, child labour in some sectors such as fishing and other businesses. These malpractices need to be curbed. We need to hold hands," she said.
She called upon well-wishers to collaborate with the district council in implementing different projects in the education sector.
Director of Nakondwa CBO, Wise Balakasi said they have made the donation to encourage the learners on their education journey.
"As one way of promoting education in the country, we are lucky to be partnering with Midgley who has been supporting early childhood development in Senior Chief Kalonga.
"Educational materials are very important and not all parents can afford to provide for their children, therefore assisting the learners with educational materials will go a long way in smoothening their education journey," he said.
A standard eight learners at Nakondwa Primary School, Chifundo Banda Daudi expressed gratitude for the ten notebooks he received saying it is timely considering that he is in an examination class which requires having enough school materials to capture class notes.
SRPC purchased land; aspires for media financial improvement
Petro Mkandaiwre
Blantyre, January, 23, Mana: Southern Region Press Club (SRPC) has purchased a one-hectare piece of land worth K2.5 million as one way of establishing the club’s cooperatives.
The land, which is situated at Whayo Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Kapeni in Blantyre, will be turned into a poultry and piggery farm in order to improve living standards of media personnel.
SRPC President, Ronald Amos told Malawi News Agency (MANA) in an interview on Monday that the vision of the club is to be innovative and create an environment where members of the press can attain economic growth and independence and be a vital link between financial stability and the ability of journalists to operate with autonomy and integrity.
“There is collusion between media freedom and lack of financial freedom because our media freedom is being compromised by lack of finances. As such, we want to empower journalists by having an entrepreneurship drive that would benefit them,” said Amos.
SRPC members will be able to buy shares from the cooperatives and the cooperative will create a comprehensive business plan that outlines the goals, objectives, and strategies for the group.
According to Amos, the more shares a member buys the more the dividends he/she gets.
SRPC was established with a vision to foster solidarity and collaboration among media. It is rooted in a profound understanding that economic empowerment is the cornerstone of journalists’ independence as it unifies force for the journalist community in the southern and eastern parts of Malawi.
One of the SRPC members, Britta Mpata, who is also willing to join the cooperative said farming is a potential pathway for smallholder producers to gain access to more lucrative market opportunities thereby improving livelihoods and reducing poverty.
“As a member, this is my opportunity to acquire new skills. Through these press cooperatives journalist poverty will be mitigated as it will boost life standards as well as food security,” said Mpata.
Sports experts asked for football improvement
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, January 22, Mana: Sports analysts have asked Ministry of Youth and Sports to work hand in hand with the Ministry of Education in formalizing sports in the education system at all levels as a way of improving sports in the country.
Speaking with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Monday, sports expert, Kim Kamau, said the country seriously misses grassroots football development as in the past football, and sports in general, was incorporated in the education syllabus which assisted in unearthing and building talent at the most critical aspect of the game.
"The state of Malawi football is a mixed bag. If we dissect into the technical and administrative angles technically the game has stagnated. If we are to do a proper comparative analysis of gains made at the national level and infrastructure we will find out that it has dwindled to worrisome levels," said Kamau.
He added that football commands a larger outcome than any other sport such that it has an ideal platform for creating market value for any product.
Kamau further explained that football generates revenue through gate collections and television rights and gives a platform for small and medium enterprises to undertake market activities.
In a separate interview Chairperson for Ngwangwa Wan Football Zone in Balaka, Vivah Mandala, appealed to government and other stakeholders to engage bonanza and leagues in local football communities because it is where talent and skillful people can be found.
“Gatekeepers should know that football starts from zones and it drives the economy. Lack of football resources hinders the improvement of football and the whole sports industry. Establishment of local sports from zones and districts can put Malawi on the map,” said Mandala.
He, therefore, said once vibrant structures which are an eyesore now like MDC, BAT, Nchalo, Zomba, Lilongwe Community Centre Ground and Mzuzu Stadium should be maintained they should be able to bring resources and boost the industry.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire said it is the ministry’s responsibility to make sure that resources are available for the elevation of sports in the country.
He said the ministry is working with other stakeholders to improve sports in the country.
"The industry has tremendously grown, with more stakeholders involved, including women administrators, and of course players. Our large focus is on the game to grow and provide all football necessities,” said Mkandawire.
ECHO Africa supports students with note books
By Memory Khutuliwa
Blantyre, January 21, Mana: Encountering Christ Helping Others (ECHO) Africa has donated 5,000 noted books to student at Nyambadwe Primary and Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Ndirande as one way of promoting primary and secondary education.
Speaking in an interview after the donation recently, Pastor Saphina Fletcher said ECHO Africa focuses on preaching the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, organising sports bonanzas as one way of preaching the gospel and also providing Bibles and notebooks to needy students that cannot afford to buy.
‘Nyambadwe is our first school since it’s a new project but we will go to other schools,” she said observing that not all the students received the notebooks.
Fletcher, therefore, said ECHO’s target was to provide the note books to students in Form 2 and 4 and learners in Standard 8.
Nyambadwe CDSS Headteacher, Alex Sambo encouraged the students to use the notebooks for the intended purpose other than selling them.
“I appreciate this gesture. This has motivated students to work hard in class,” Sambo said.
Meanwhile, Nyambadwe CDSS and Nyambadwe Primary School are the only schools in Blantyre that received notebooks from ECHO Africa. Other school will receive their part.
104 students at Nyambadwe CDSS received the notebooks in Forms 2 and 4 while over 3,000 note books were divided among Standard 8 learners at Nyambadwe Primary School.
Ministry, MIE engage public in curriculum review
By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
Blantyre, January 21, Mana: Ministry of Education, through Malawi Institute of Education (MIE), is engaging the public in reviewing education curriculum for pre-school, primary, secondary and teacher training education institutions to ensure that they align with the Malawi 2063 (MW2063).
Speaking during the consultative meeting on curriculum review in Blantyre on Saturday, Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, observed that existing curricula have become long overdue for review to respond to the current needs of Malawians and aspirations of the MW2063.
“Education curricula drive socio-economic development by setting education standards that aim to equip learners with knowledge, skills and competencies necessary for personal and national growth. To achieve this, the curriculum has to regularly be reviewed so that education contents and goals align to economic prosperity and technological advancement for wealth creation,” she said.
Wirima expressed optimism that the input from the public presented in the consultative meeting will assist in developing a balanced, realistic and relevant curriculum to achieve high standards of education in the country.
In his remarks, MIE Executive Director Frank Mtemang’ombe shared similar views with Wirima on the need to review the curricula to respond to the needs of today, tomorrow and also ever-changing socio-economic landscape.
According to Mtemang’ombe, the curriculum for primary school is reviewed every eight years but the current one has passed over the stipulated years since it was last reviewed in 2007.
“Similarly, secondary school curriculum was last reviewed in 2015, yet it is supposed to be reviewed every four years. Likewise, teacher training curriculum is reviewed every two years, but since 2018 it has never been reviewed again,” he said.
Educationalist Andy Manyondo hailed government for the exercise and urged the authorities to include in the new curriculum inclusive education to enable learners attain full potential in life.
The consultative meeting attracted academia, business tycoons, parents and faith leaders among others.
Program impressed with bee keeping in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, January 20, Mana: Ministry of Trade and Industry has expressed satisfaction with the progress of bee keeping initiatives in Nkhata Bay as evidenced by increased number of people joining and embracing new bee keeping technics.
Community Specialist for Honey for Transforming Agriculture, through Diversification and Entrepreneurship Program, Arthur Ngwende made the remarks on Friday in Nkhata Bay during a consultative meeting with relevant stakeholders on bee keeping.
"Bee keeping in this district is on track as more and more small holder farmers are joining the venture. Currently, Nkhata Bay has 3,500 farmers and a good number of them are using modern technics to maximize honey production,” said Ngwende.
He hinted on the need for the bee keepers to put what they learn, through various capacity building trainings, into practice if they are to boost their honey productivity and income.
"Bee keeping has the potential to enhance households’ economic sustainability if farmers apply the knowledge they acquire through trainings for improved livelihood," he added.
In his remarks, Acting Director of Trade and Commence for Nkhata Bay District Council, Thanira Gondwe described the meeting as crucial in reviewing honey markets establishment strategies.
"The farmers need access to good markets where they can get good prices. We have very few markets and we need more outlets," said Gondwe.
Chairperson for Nkhata Bay District Disability Forum, McDwelings Nkhoma appealed for increased participation of more people with disabilities in bee keeping saying, currently, there are only a handful people involved in the initiative.
Lilongwe farmers laud Public Works Programme
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, January 20, Mana: Farmers in Lilongwe district have commended Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) for equipping them with climate smart agricultural technologies which have helped restore degraded land.
Speaking on Friday during a media tour at Linthipe Catchment Area in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chitekwere in the district, one of the farmers Damiano Chauwa said many people are now able to do their agricultural activities on the pieces of land which were abandoned for some time because of lack of fertile soil due to degradation as a result of run-off.
“We are happy now that we are able to use the farms that were abandoned many years ago because of run-off water as we were not able to harvest enough maize as most of the crops were being washed away,” he said.
He said his farm and others have benefited stone bunds and swales which were constructed and vertices grass was planted in his field which has helped mitigate the run-off.
Through the project, penetrating pits were also constructed which has helped reduce soil erosion as run off has completely been controlled.
According to Chauwa, the farmers are optimistic to have bumper yield this year.
Another participant from Kavunde Catchment Area in the area of Traditional Authority M’bang’ombe, Lex Kapaza, said the programme has assisted farmers to embrace new farming technologies which has dramatically helped them change their livelihood for the better.
“Let me take this opportunity to thank government for introducing CS-EPWP which is changing the lives of people. If you can go around, you will see that many of us have livestock because of this programme,” he said.
Lilongwe District Desk Officer for CS-EPWP, Setrida Mlamba, said it is interesting that communities in the district have embraced the programme and expressed optimism over the success of the programme citing current progress in the restoration of the degraded landscapes.
CS-EPWP is a component of Social Support for Resilience Livelihood Project (SSRLP), which is being facilitated by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) with financial support from the Multi-Donor Trust Fund including the World Bank.
