By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, January 13, Mana: Principal Social Welfare Officer for Kasungu, Victor Williams Nyirenda has hailed the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) saying it has helped to build resilience amongst poor and labour-constrained households.

Nyirenda said this on Monday on the sidelines of a media tour the council organized to appreciate the impact of the social protection initiative which is a component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihood Project being implemented by Malawi Government through the National Local Government Finance Committee.

He said it is pleasing that many targeted households have acquired life-changing assets that will help the families stand on their own.

"We are excited and satisfied that here in Kasungu we are on the right trajectory as regards achieving the SCTP objective which is to build resilience amongst poor households.

"So far it is pleasing to note that many beneficiary households have acquired assets like livestock while some have invested in various businesses including farming," Nyirenda said.

He hailed the role played by Community Savings and Investment Promotion (COMSIP) in providing business management training to SCTP beneficiaries, which has helped them to succeed in their diverse businesses.

Traditional Authority Chilowamatambe urged the beneficiary households to sustain their businesses so that they graduate from the initiative and live independent life.

"I am impressed with various ventures that have been created under the programme. My appeal is that we maintain the momentum so that we get out of poverty and become independent," He said.

One of the beneficiaries Liness Phiri from Traditional Authority Kaomba said she invested her money in a tailoring business which has helped her to build a house and expand her farming activities.

"It's easier now to feed my three children and send them to school. I'm also able to harvest enough such that my household is food secure in all the months of the year," She said.

Another beneficiary James Kwenda from Chilowamatambe said he will use the savings he has made in 2024 through a village savings and loans group to boost his butchery business.

Kasungu District has over 16,000 beneficiaries who have so far received K10.3 billion since the programme rolled out in 2017.

Funded by the World Bank and the Multi-Donor Trust Fund, the SCTP aims to create wealth, reduce poverty and improve school attendance and nutrition status amongst economically vulnerable households.

By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, January 13, Mana: Police in Mchinji have arrested a 35-year-old teacher, Owen Banda, for fraudulently obtaining farm inputs meant for farmers under the Mega Farm Loan project and selling them for personal gain.

According to police investigations, the Mega Farm Loan project, facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture, allows farmers with at least 20 hectares of land to acquire farm inputs on loan.

However, Banda falsely claimed ownership of a 20-hectare piece of land which did not belong to him to secure inputs valued at MK43,142,400.

Mchinji Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Limbani Mpinganjira, said that the inputs Banda fraudulently obtained included 256 bags of NPK and Urea fertilizer, 800 kilograms of certified maize seed, 128 litres of Hannes chemical, and 128 litres of Round-Up chemical which were later found being sold at his shop.

“The suspect used a fabricated land claim to access the loan and obtained the farm inputs, which he then put up for sale,” Mpinganjira said.

The fraud came to light when authorities overseeing the Mega Farm Loan project became suspicious of Banda’s activities and reported the matter to Mkanda Police Post which led to his immediate arrest.

Efforts by the police to recover the stolen inputs are ongoing.

Banda is currently in custody at Mchinji Police Station and will soon appear in court to face charges of Fraud other than pretences under Section 319A of the Penal Code.

Banda is a teacher at Chimwamkango General Farming Primary School in Mchinji District and hails from Mlengwe Village, Traditional Authority Dzoole, in Dowa District.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, January 13, Mana: Government has said the 2025/2026 budget will utilise revenue from taxes and other revenues and not rely on borrowing from donors to develop the country.

Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithyola said this on Monday during the opening of the first 2025/26 pre-budget consultation meeting in Lilongwe.

He said government wants to formulate a "people-friendly budget" focusing on key areas for sustainable economic growth.

“This meeting is critical and of utmost importance as it provides us with the opportunity to gather and solicit views on the formulation of the 2025/26 National Budget from a diverse range of stakeholders”, said Chithyola.

Chithyola stated that government is still in discussion with the International Monetary Fund to consider supporting Malawi with the Extended Credit Facility (ECF).

Representing the Secretary to the Treasury and Principal Secretary for Administration in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Heatherwick Njati, stressed the importance of collaboration in crafting a transformative budget.

"The budget is a tool for economic transformation. Its success depends on proper planning, programming and implementation," he said.

He therefore urged participants including professional bodies, civil society and faith-based organisations to contribute solutions to challenges that could hinder the budget's success.

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, December 2, Mana: The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) has advised lake users to take necessary precautionary measures due to the coming week of strong winds over water bodies and thunderstorms within vicinity.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency on Monday, Head of Public Weather and Aviation Services at DCCMS, Yobu Kachiwanda said from 2 to 8 December rough conditions will be experienced over water bodies of Lake Malawi and Lake Chirwa, as other parts of the country will experience partly cloudy and hot weather conditions with generally isolated showers.

“The people with small boats need extra care and if they observe an increase in wind speed they have to go offshore. Beach villages need to stay indoors, avoid open fields, tall trees and metal objects,” said Kachiwanda.

He added that Blantyre is expected to have more sun but on Thursday it will experience some changes of isolated rains, leading other parts of the district to face heavy rains on Friday.

Chairperson for Mangochi Sub Fisheries Association, Amidu Kalulu commended DCCMS for the weather forecast saying the message has come at the right time and it will help to reduce the increase of falling overboard cases.

“Fishing hooks and rods can be dangerous if not handled with care. As such, we as farmers must utilize the message provided by the department. As part of avoiding risks which occur due to climate change, we will involve our fellow farmers in sensitization,” said Kalulu.

According to the department, during the past week many areas experienced windy, overcast and hot weather, accompanied by thunderstorms which were locally heavy, resulting in significant damage in some areas with the maximum temperature reached 43.0 degrees Celsius at Ngabu in Chikwawa.

The most noteworthy rainfall over a 24-hour period was 181mm recorded at Mwaulambo in Karonga followed by Nkhatabay meteorological station which reported 113.3mm on November 30, 2024.

By Innocent Chamtulo

Mulanje, December 2, Mana: Village Savings Loans (VSL) group and business persons in Traditional Authority Ndanga have hailed the use of digital financial services being promoted by the Reserve Bank of Malawi.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency on Monday, Chairperson for Talimba Group Chrissy Nyaka said in the past years they have been keeping their money in the house which was putting it at high risk of getting damaged or stolen.

“We appreciate government for the training that have been provided by the Reserve Bank of Malawi. We had little knowledge on modern ways of keeping our money safe but after this interaction we believe that we will make sure that we follow what have been learnt,” she said.

She further said the use of digital platforms will help to promote accountability and transparency in running affairs of their village savings group when it comes to management and safety of finances.

Oliver Selenje from Limbuli Market in Traditional Authority Njema said she noted that the use of digital platforms when facilitating business is ideal since it is less risky than keeping hard cash at home.

“We have warmly welcomed the initiative, I believe this will help us to make easy calculations on the profits that have been made on every day of business," she said.

Mulanje District Council Community Development Officer, Janet Nsongolo said financial literacy was one of the key areas they teach VSL groups during formation and as refresher trainings.

A 20-day campaign which started on 26^th November in Mulanje District is expected to reach out to the whole district mainly trading centers and secondary schools with road shows and sensitization meetings.

By Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, December 1, Mana: President  Dr  Lazarus Chakwera has hailed the Chinese Government for the development assistance that it renders to Malawi.

Speaking Sunday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe during an engagement meeting with a delegation from China, Chakwera said with the Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) strategy there is expectation that Malawi government will continue to get assistance from the people of China.

“I am extremely grateful for the assistance and we are looking forward for the government of China continued assistance,” he said.

The people of the Republic of China have donated to the Republic of Malawi 500 solar panels worth US$200,000.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nancy Tembo, underscored the importance of the engagement saying  it will ensure that goods exported to China have Chinese standards.

“The objective of this meeting is to strengthen bilateral relation between Malawi and the people of the Republic of China. This will, going forward, ensure that Chinese standards and Malawi standards are synchronized when exporting goods to China,” she said.

She hailed the donation of the solar panels saying they will be useful in the rainy season since they will be placed in schools, hospitals or clinics which will help in time of power cuts and outages.

On Monday the Chinese team is expected to engage the Malawi Bureau of Standards, where a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation and ensure that standards in export between the two countries are met, will be signed.

By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, December 1, Mana: Youth for Success and Development (YASD) has encouraged youth in the country to take advantage of wastes by turning them into manure, wrist bands and other products that are user and environmentally friendly to all.

Chief Executive Director for YASD, Edward Msiska said this during a clean-up exercise at Wakawaka market in Lilongwe on Saturday.

Msiska said the exercise was meant to raise awareness of waste management, in line with the Lilongwe City Council's strategic plan, which states that the city should be free from poor waste management.

He said the initiative will help to promote proper waste management by encouraging the market owners to follow the right procedures when disposing of waste, which is one way of promoting hygiene and sanitation.

“Our youths will use the waste collected here at Wakawaka market to make manure, wrist bands and other products that can be used for agricultural purposes and others,” he said.

He said YASD believes in innovation by turning the wastes into other usable things which are also environmentally friendly.

"YASD has partnered with the market committee on how best to dispose of waste to promote hygiene and sanitation since most of the goods that are sold at the market are foods that are used for consumption purposes," added Msiska.

Chairperson for the market committee, Matius Jiya, said the coming of the youth under the YASD organization to clean the market has opened eyes to many people in the market on the importance of hygiene and sanitation when buying and selling goods.

“The coming of the organisation has made our market smart since many people carelessly dispose of waste which was making the market unhygienic.

“I would like to take this chance to appeal to all well-wishers to provide the market with dustbins, gloves, and shovels so that they can be used for cleaning the market easily to promote hygiene and sanitation,” he explained.

One of the youths from Area 36 youth forum Kingsley Phiri hailed the organisation for involving them in different projects including the clean-up exercise at the market.

“The waste that we have obtained will be used to make manure for our agricultural purposes in our area which will help us to reduce the costs of buying fertiliser that is very unaffordable currently," he said.

YASD is working with several youths and women groups in different parts of central region as one way of promoting clean city campaign for all.

By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, November 30, Mana: Police in Limbe are keeping in custody, Patrick Banda, 24 for allegedly being found in possession of assorted medical drugs including Antiretroviral ARVs without license.

Limbe Police Station Deputy Public Relations Officer, Sub Inspector Chibisa Mulimbika, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Saturday that Banda was arrested on November 29^h, 2024, following a tip from the community that he was selling assorted drugs at Chiswe, Chigumula Township in Blantyre district.

“Police have since recovered different types of drugs ranging from contraceptives, (RVs), pain killers, ARVs, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and antibiotics,” he said.

Mulimbika added that Banda will appear before court soon to answer charge of; being found in possession of medical drugs without license.

Patrick Banda comes from Chiswe Village, Traditional Authority Machinjiri in Blantyre District

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, November 30, Mana: Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Commander, Paul Valentino Phiri has encouraged Junior Officers who have completed their course at Command and Staff College to maintain professionalism as they serve Malawians.

He made the remarks on Friday during the closing ceremony of Junior Command and Staff Course number 5 of the Malawi Defence Force academic year 2024 at the Staff College.

Phiri said upholding the core values that encompass military ethics should never be underemphasized.

He then emphasized that special military courses are essential for junior officers to gain new knowledge and skills as they serve as middle managers.

In his remarks, MDF Command and Staff College Commandant Colonel Enock Ntonya applauded the junior officers for their discipline and successful completion of the course.

Ntonya added that the military officers have been equipped with knowledge in different sectors of their daily work adding the junior command and staff course is essential as it plays a great role in decision-making.

"This course is specifically crafted to equip junior officers as they progress to higher ranks of serving in bigger roles. We have courses in decision-making, critical thinking and other important topics that shape military officers with integrity," he said.

He then commended stakeholders who supported in different ways to make the training a success.

The 5-month Junior Command Course drew 31 participants including those from Malawi and other seven from Zambia, Mozambique, Eswatini, Botswana, and Tanzania.

By Aubrey Ghambi

Nkhata Bay, November 30, Mana: Heavy rains accompanied by strong winds which started Friday night, have caused widespread destruction in Group Village Head Kamoza in the area of Chief Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay, leaving numerous families homeless.

In an interview on Saturday, Councillor for Nkhata Bay Boma Ward, Cyria Adamana Nyamwera said over 18 families have been displaced with their homes severely damaged.

"Many of the families were caught off guard by the heavy rains and currently about 18 households have their houses and other properties destroyed,” said Nyamwera.

According to Nyamwera, no injuries have been reported yet, however people are in need of shelter as the rains continue.

Spokesperson Chisomo Kambandanga for Nkhata Bay District Council confirmed that the council has received reports of the damage and is in the process of conducting on-site verification.

“The rains have caused significant damage, including to kiosks at the new Nkhata Bay Boma Market, the council's car park, and the roof of Kalambwe CCAP Church, which was blown off.

“Once we are done with assessment and verification on the damage caused, a report will immediately be sent to relevant authorities," he said.

According to reports from the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, Nkhata Bay will continue receiving rains throughout the day.