By Emily M'mangisa

Zomba, November 21, Mana: Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire has stressed the need to foster entrepreneurship skills among the youth to build an empowered and resilient nation.

Speaking at Gymkhana Club Ground on Thursday during a graduation ceremony of 1,000 youths who underwent an entrepreneurial skills training under the auspices of Titukulane Resilience and Food Security Project, Mkandawire said skills development is among the seven pillars in the ministry of youth.

"Under the seven pillars, we have entrepreneurship, this is why I am grateful to preside over this graduation," Mkandawire said.

He noted that acquisition of skills is more than just money, saying it is a capital that will remain in the youths for eternity.

Mkandawire reiterated the President Dr. Lazarus Chakweras' vision to create a self-reliant Malawi through provision of necessary skills to the population.

The minister, therefore, encouraged the graduates to apply the knowledge they gained to eradicate poverty.

Executive Director for Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA), Elwin Sichiola said the authority will continue equipping people of different age groups including the youth with vocational skills.

"All those that have received certificates today and have MSCE are welcome to pursue diplomas on our programs," he said.

In his remarks, Zomba District Council Chairperson, Bazilio Chinthenga expressed gratitude with the implementation of Titukulane Project.

Chinthenga said the project has demonstrated deliverables that are currently assisting the community.

He, however, called upon other organizations to continue where Titukulane project has stopped, saying more youths remain jobless.

One of the outstanding students in fashion designing from Traditional Authority Nkagula, Bashiri Ali, 24, outlined his achievements from the project.

“I am glad to have been recognized and be among the youth who have gained entrepreneurial skills. I promise to do my best and be an example to many youths within my community," he said.

United States Agency for International Development representative, Alexis Jones, who is also Humanitarian Assistance Team Leader, said it was the aim of the agency to put measures that will assist in the development of Malawi.

Of the total graduates, eight students graduated from brick laying, carpentry 126, electrical installation 36, welding and fabrication 93, cosmetology 117, phone repairing 32 and 226 students in tailoring.

Before the graduation, the minister and other top officials alongside Zomba Prison Brass Band led the graduates through a parade from Zomba Police College to Gymkhana Club Ground.

By Mary Sichali

Karonga, November 20, Mana: Female officers from the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Prison Service, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, held a parade on Wednesday in Karonga District to raise awareness and reduce cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against women and children.

The parade called operation "Basadi" which literally means 'women' in Sotho and Tswana languages is an operation by female police officers across countries in the SADC region and it focuses on combating priority crimes particularly against women and children, such as defilement, rape, assault, human trafficking, domestic violence and child labour among others.

Public Relations Officer for Karonga Police, Constable Magret Msiska said they conducted the operation to create awareness to the public and ensure that female police officers are integral in dealing with GBV against women and children.

"Through the victim support unit office, we are sensitizing the public about GBV and its dangers, the penalties involved and case reporting procedure," Msiska said.

She added that the common forms of GBV in karonga are; rape, assault, sexual intercourse with a minor and sending children to sell items during school hours.

"Sometimes women and children may not know that they are experiencing violence. That is why we are putting effort towards building awareness even in schools to keep children informed about their rights to minimize the cases," she explained.

District Gender Officer for Karonga District Council, Ireen Mwenelupembe said GBV cases are rampant in the district and that the initiative by the police will play a vital role in dealing with the status quo.

"As a council, this year from January up to now we have registered 757 cases of GBV while last year it was 500 cases. This informs an escalation and I believe the exercise may aid the lowering of GBV numbers," Mwenelupembe said.

By Andrew Gondwe

Chitipa, November 21, Mana: Chitipa based Tubepoka Development Initiative (TDI) has donated different medical supplies to Chitipa District Hospital to promote healthy service delivery in Chitipa District.

The medical supplies and equipment includes; 93 cartons of different medical supplies, crutches, hospital beds, mattresses and electric beds to be used in the High Dependency Unit (HDU); all amounting to MK12 million.

Speaking on Tuesday during the handover ceremony at Chitipa District Hospital, Executive Director for TDI, Apostle Paul Ng'ambi appealed to the district hospital management team to put the donated supplies to the intended purpose.  

Director of Health and Social Services for Chitipa District, George Kasondo applauded TDI for the donation, saying it has come at a right time whereby Chitipa District is in high need of medical supplies and equipment.

By Ireen Mseteka

Likoma, November 21, Mana: Likoma District Council on Thursday launched MK114 Million Yofu-Makulawe Health Post construction Project which has been financed by the Constituency Development Fund.

Speaking on Thursday during the launching ceremony of the project alongside handing over construction site to a contractor, Cheyeka Contractors Limited’s Director of Administration for Likoma District Council, Moses Jere said that the project is expected to be completed in three months.

“The council is committed towards bringing healthy services closer to people so that people do not travel more than eight Kilometers to access health services as stipulated by government policy, hence the project,” said Jere.

Member of Parliament for Likoma, Ashems Songwe said community members from the surrounding areas of the facility will access primary health care services within their reach once the health post is completed.

“People will no longer be going to St Peters Hospital for minor ailments. Women will have easy access to maternal health services hence promoting safe motherhood,” said Songwe.

He then advised the contractor to complete the project within the agreed timeframe since resources for the project are readily available.

One of the community members, Patricia Dilisha said the Post will be a relief especially to expectant women who had to travel to St Peters Hospital for delivery.

“Some women were delivering on their way to the hospital. This will be history once the project is completed,” said Dilisha.

Director for Cheyeka Contractors Limited, Blessings Ng’oma said that the health post will be constructed according to the clients required standards.

“We will deliver according to the required standards for the structure to last long,” said Ng’oma.

By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, November 20, Mana: The parliament week that was officially launched on Monday has exposed students from both tertiary, secondary and primary schools from different parts of the country to parliament duties.

Students have been able to gain knowledge and understand the duties of the members of parliament and its works when it comes to making laws.

One of the students from Roslyn Secondary school in area 25 said that during the pavilion he was able to know and understand the functions of the members of the parliament when it comes to making and implementing laws of the country.

“Our coming to parliament has helped us to open our eyes and gain knowledge on how the parliament works, and this is going to help us easily understand things we have been learning at school practically," she said.

One of the teachers, Clement Samudeni, who is also head of humanities at Roslyn secondary school said the launch of parliament week has brought a positive impact to many students and other people since many policies that are developed in parliament plays a crucial role in their lives.

“Malawi is a country where many people do not have knowledge on what happens here at parliament and the coming of the programme will surely help students to obtain knowledge which will boost their performance when it comes to their studies since they have learnt about parliament practically,” he explained.

Concurring with Samudeni, Hanna Muhango who is a student from Nanjati primary school said what the parliament has done is very imperative as students will now be able to easily understand what they are learning in their respective schools concerning parliament.

“The coming of our school at Parliament has helped us to know and understand duties of the members of parliament and know the books that constitute laws of the nation.

“I would like to encourage my fellow students to come and attend the pavilions in order to learn and know more about parliament which can help them to perform well during examinations when issues of the parliament arise,” she explained.

By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, November 21, Mana: At least 34 cows were killed by lightning on Wednesday afternoon in Matimba Village, under Traditional Authority Chioshya in Mchinji District.

Mchinji District Animal Health and Livestock Officer, Mwiza Msiska, confirmed the incident and said veterinary officers are conducting routine checks to verify the cause of death.

“If it is confirmed that lightning was the cause, the animals may not pose a threat if consumed. However, we are conducting standard checks, similar to those done at slaughterhouses, to rule out any other potential causes,” Msiska said.

Eyewitness Bisayi Makowa reported that the cows were resting under a tree to seek shelter from the rain when the lightning struck.

“The lightning only struck the cows, but there was no sign of any burnt tree from the impact,” Makowa said.

Police, livestock officers, and other authorities rushed to the scene after receiving reports of the incident.

Mchinji Police Public Relations Officer, Limbani Mpinganjira, confirmed that no human fatalities were reported.

“We have not received any report of a person being killed during the incident,” Mpinganjira said.

The financial loss is estimated at over K17 million, with the average value of each cow pegged at K500,000.

Authorities are still working to establish whether the animals belonged to different owners.

By Benedicto Maguda

Blantyre, November 20, Mana: Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has appealed to electoral stakeholders in Malawi to take active role in encouraging eligible voters to get registered in the current voter registration in readiness for the 2025 General Election.

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) currently is in phase 2 of the voter registration in preparation for 2025 polls when registered voters will elect president, members of parliament and ward councilors.

Spokesperson for Public Affairs Committee, Bishop Gifford Matonga told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday that many stakeholders are not doing enough to mobilize people on voter registration.

“There are a number of factors that are causing such low turnout in most registration centers; this is so because stakeholders are not doing well in voter civic education and mobilization. People are supposed to be well educated on issues to do with voter registration,” he said.

Matonga therefore asked church leaders, chiefs, non-governmental organizations, and all stakeholders to take part in encouraging people to go and register for 2025 elections.

In a separate interview, Councilor for Chisenjere Ward in Zomba, Gift Chilipa said it is true that people are not coming out for registration as compared to the last general elections.

“Despite MEC and NICE doing awareness, people are not coming in large numbers. This is worrisome but we are trying our best to deliver the messages about the importance of voter registration in places such as churches and mosques,” added Chilipa.

Second round of voters’ registration is underway in Nkhata Bay, Rumphi, Likoma, Kasungu, Kasungu Municipality, Dowa, Mchinji, Ntcheu, Zomba, Zomba City, Blantyre, Blantyre City and Thyolo.