MANAonline
FHS to promote sexual reproductive health in Balaka
By Albert Mulizakamba
Balaka, October 03, Mana: Family Health Services (FHS) through Umoyo Wathu Project has called for collaborative effort among all parties in Balaka to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and promote Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Services (SRHRS) for Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW).
FHS Chief of Party for Umoyo Wathu Program, John Munthali, made the sentiments Wednesday in Balaka when presenting the project to District Executive Committee (DEC) members, stressing the innovative approaches adopted in the program would enhance healthcare delivery and address GBV in the district.
He said: “Our main objective is to raise awareness about sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) and family planning services among youths and marginalized groups, including people living with disabilities."
Munthali further revealed that many girls under the age of 18 face various forms of GBV due to limited access to SRHRS in their areas.
"The program aims at assisting Balaka District by providing various health services, particularly in family planning and SRHR, especially in remote areas," he stated.
He added that the program will involve training of health workers in 19 health centres to deliver long-term family planning services, educating communities about SRHR and family planning, and providing cervical cancer screening services through outreach clinics.
Director of Planning and Development for Balaka District Council, Chris Nawata, commended the program as timely.
“The district will adopt a concerted effort among various parties, including the District Health Office to transcend the aim of this programme,” he said.
Nawata therefore called for local authorities to welcome the development with a positive mindset, adding that such initiatives complement government efforts to fulfill universal health coverage.
The Umoyo Wathu program will also equip the youth with economic skills and train mother groups to disseminate Family Planning Services (FPS).
The project is funded by the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) of the British Government and will be implemented for four years in nine districts including Balaka.
Government urges Authorities to embrace Decentralization
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, October 2, Mana: Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda has emphasized the need for various ministries, departments, and agencies to devolve their powers to councils for effective implementation of decentralization, which is critical in the realization of Vision 2063.
He made the remarks on Wednesday, during the official launch of the National Decentralization Policy (NDP) under the theme "Deepening Decentralization” in Lilongwe.
The Minister stressed that the policy is an upgrade of the first edition policy, which was launched in 1998 and had some gaps in enhancing decentralization.
He stated that this new policy will address critical gaps, including financial discipline, increasing availability of resources at Local Councils, community participation, and ensuring that councils effectively implement works assigned to them.
He also stated that by devolving powers to local councils, the government will be able to operate effectively, reducing inconvenience and inconsistency in service delivery to citizens in the country, and ensuring that people are aware of what is happening in their country.
He also stressed that the policy would provide a framework for monitoring and evaluating how local councils are performing.
He stated that the policy will provide a platform for the Central Government to assess the performance of various councils emphasizing the importance for all authorities to embrace decentralization.
In his remarks, United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Representative Shadrack Omol commended the government for the launch of the second edition of the NDP policy, stating that the policy will help to improve and address various challenges faced in the previous policy.
He highlighted that the launch of the policy signifies the government's commitment to embracing decentralization, which can enhance efficiency in service delivery in the country.
Omol stated that UNICEF will continue to support Malawi through the national budget and technical support to ensure the effective implementation of the policy.
MEC rectifies challenges encountered in pilot voter registration
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, October 2, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has disclosed that they have managed to sort out the problems the commission encountered during the pilot voter registration exercise, which was held in September this year.
MEC Commissioner Caroline Mfune, disclosed this on Wednesday in Chitipa District during sensitisation meetings for civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders in the district in readiness for the fresh voter registration exercise for the 2025 general elections.
Mfune said that MEC learned a lot during the pilot voter registration and it was good that they carried out the exercise.
“We encountered some problems for sure. But the good thing is that we have managed to sort out all the problems we encountered. For example, we had problems with cameras as they could not capture registrants within three to five minutes if they were dark-skinned or old.
“I want to inform Malawians especially people here in Chitipa that there will be no problem. It was right and fundamental that we had the pilot voter registration because had it been we did not carry it, those problems could manifest in the actual voter registration,” Mfune said.
She further said that the meeting targeted traditional and religious leaders to give them firsthand information so that they could disseminate the same to their subjects in communities and churches to clear any misconceptions and myths.
Reverend Honest Mwenisung of Chitipa Evangelical Lutheran Church, applauded MEC for targeting religious leaders as major stakeholders in the forthcoming general elections.
Mwenisungo, who is also Chairperson for Pastors Fraternal in Chitipa district, said that their role as religious leaders is to sensitise their members on the importance of voter registration.
“As religious leaders, we have a big role to play in sensitising our members to register and even vote during the forthcoming general elections,” Mwenisungo said.
Senior Chief Mwabulambya said he would sensitise his subjects on the importance of voter registration and their right to vote.
The first phase of voter registration starts from 21 October to 3 November 2024, while the second phase starts from 9 to 22 November and the third phase starts from 28 November to 11 December 2024.
MV Chambo re-introduced on Lake Malawi
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, October 2, Mana: Businesspeople and mere commuters in Likoma have applauded the re-introduction of a Mozambican MV Chambo on Lake Malawi, saying the development will sort some of the water transport-related challenges.
In an interview Wednesday, a mobile banking operator, Emmanuel Saidi at Mbamba said the coming of the vessel will reduce travel time and passenger congestion in the only reliable MV Ilala
“MV Ilala which starts from Khobwe in Mozambique and operates once a week from Likoma to Nkhata Bay, in this case, takes a long time for one to go to the mainland and come back to the island.
However, MV Chambo sails from Nkhatabay on Wednesday and returns the following day in the morning and this means that we can buy merchandize from Mzuzu today and return home from following morning,” said Saidi.
Another business operator, Monica Samueli commended government for negotiating with the Republic of the Government of Mozambique for the vessel to operate between Likoma Island and Nkhata Bay.
The captain for MV Chambo who did not disclose his name said that he could not comment on the vessel’s schedule until he meets with his Malawian counterparts in Nkhata Bay for schedule drawing finalization.
Recently Public Relations Officer for Ministry of Transport and Public Works, Watson Maingo said that MV Chambo used to provide passenger services on Lake Malawi but stopped in 2019 due to Covid-19 when borders in the country were closed.
Mother arrested for assaulting five-year-old daughter
By Yanjanani Mendulo
Chiradzulu, October 2, Mana: Police in Chiradzulu are keeping in custody a 32-year-old woman identified as Fainess Gobola for assaulting her five-year-old biological daughter accusing the little one of eating relish meant for supper.
Chiradzulu Police Spokesperson, Cosmas Kagulo, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that the incident occurred on September 30, 2024, at Matandika Village, Traditional Authority Mpama in the district.
“When the suspect discovered that her daughter had eaten the relish, Gobola put her daughter in a sack and began to beat her. Fortunately, the village chief and other well-wishers heard the child’s cries for help,” he said.
According to Kagulo, the suspect is a single parent who relies on piecework for her living, adding that on the day of the incident, she left her daughter home with nothing to eat while she went out looking for work at Tomasi market.
“On her return, she discovered that the relish she had left for supper was missing and the victim admitted to having eaten it out of hunger. She therefore put her daughter in a bag and began beating her ruthlessly," said Kagulo.
He said police were investigating the incident and had arrested Gobola for assault.
Gobola comes from Aliyenda Village, Traditional Authority Chitera in the district.
National Children's Commission appeals for financial support
By Sellah Singini
Lilongwe, October 02, Mana: National Children's Commission ( NCC) has appealed for financial support from partners and stakeholders to assist the commission in its institutionalisation and the discharge of its mandate.
Commissioner Julia Chimuna who is one of the commissioners of NCC appealed on Wednesday in Lilongwe during the stakeholder’s engagement meeting between the commissioners for the NCC and stakeholders from government and Non- Government Organizations (NGO’s).
Chimuna said, currently the commission is looking for almost three billion Kwacha for its operations.
She said the money raised will help the commission in discharging its mandate and making sure that it serves children in the country effectively and elevates their lives.
"The three billion will be divided into two parts. The first part is the institutionalisation of the commission and two billion kwacha is needed for that. The second one is specifically focusing on discharging of the commission's mandate, which is for the next six months and one billion kwacha is needed for that,” Chimuna said.
"The figure appears quite huge, but when we look at the issues that are in the children's sector right now, they're very bad. And also Malawi is rated poorly in terms of Children's Services," she added.
In his remarks, Deputy Director for Child Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Justin Hamela said the commission will help in the coordination, enforcement and also holding different partners accountable in the delivery of services towards children.
"As you are aware, what led to the establish of the commission is the motion that was raised in parliament where it acknowledged the challenges that children are facing, but also limited services that are there to offer different kinds of services to children,
"so we look at it as a very important institution that would help and support the ministry in providing necessary services to children, " He said.
Hamela added that there is a need for more resources for the actual services at council level, where children are usually available and they are looking for such kinds of services.
Over 1.6 billion disbursed in single phase of SCTP in Nsanje
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, October 2, Mana: Over K1.6 billion has been disbursed to 7,000 households in a single phase of Malawi Government, Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in Nsanje District as recipients receive K225,000 above according to family size and status of members.
Nsanje District Commissioner, Dominic Mwandira confirmed on Wednesday to Malawi News Agency, saying the just-ended cycle saw households receiving K225,000 while others received more.
“Other beneficiaries received K225,00o while others received as much as K300,000 per cycle," he added and advised the recipients to utilize the money wisely and invest where possible.
“Government has pumped in a lot of resources in various programmes including the Social Cash Transfer Programme," he added
Social Welfare Officer responsible for Social Cash Transfer Programme, Abdulrazack Duwa said despite that the new beneficiaries in the SCTP have only received the cash twice, there was positive feedback from the recipients.
“Some bought food, others have bought iron sheets, and some are investing the money in Village Savings and Loan,” he added and expressed optimism that life of the beneficiary households would improve as some of them were becoming economically self-reliant.
The disparity in cash among recipients occurs due to several factors that include household size and rate of vulnerability, according to Duwa
Nsanje District so far enrolled 7,000 households in the Social Cash Transfer Programme, a Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project in Malawi which is meant to improve resilience among the poor and vulnerable population.
The SCTP is also meant to strengthen the national platform for safety nets.
Miss Culture appeals for donations to orphanages
By Joseph Mtendere Ligowe
Blantyre, 2 October, Mana; One of the finalists top ten Miss Culture Malawi, Esnath Natasha Muyenza appeals to people of goodwill and organizations to help her to raise financial resources and materials to enable her to donate to children in orphanages and other people in need of attention.
She told Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Tuesday that philanthropy was one of the requirements for the contestants in the Miss Culture Malawi to prove that contenders have the heart to give back to society.
“I am looking for any kind of donations such as sanitary pads, clothes, stationery, school bags, maize and rice just to mention a few,” she added.
Muyenza also added contenders in Missi Culture Malawi introduced the culture of reaching out to the vulnerable among them children in dire need of support to ensure they feel part of the community.
“Only orphanages and foundations will benefit from this initiative,” she assured would-be donors to her course.
Director of Courageous Kids Orphanage, Courageous Musasa said that they welcome Muyenza’s call and philanthropic intention, saying the intended donation will complement orphanages mission of caring for needy children.
“I thank Miss Culture Malawi for this initiative and in particular, Esnart for putting our foundation on the list of beneficial of donations and I am optimistic that this initiative will reduce the burden we have in most orphanages,” said Musasa.
All set for Mulhako Wa Alhomwe annual festival
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, October 2, Mana: Organizers of Mulhako Wa Alhomwe Annual Cultural Festival have confirmed that all is set for this year’s event scheduled for Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October at Chonde Cultural Village in Mulanje.
The event brings together Lhomwe people from within and outside Malawi to promote and preserve culture and this year’s gathering will be celebrated under the theme; United for a Common Purpose.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Tuesday, one of the organizers, Jubeck Monjeza, said the cultural festival is important to the nation as it brings unity among people of different tribes.
“We have invited people from different ethnic groups within Malawi and other countries including Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa,” he said, adding the festival preparations were in final stages.
“This year’s Mulhako will be different from previous editions as we keep on bringing in new things every year. We have added other Lhomwe foods that were not there in the past,” he added.
Monjeza therefore appealed to people, regardless of their tribe to patronize the event in large numbers and assured them that there will be tight security to ensure order.
Apart from Lhomwe traditional dances, patrons will also enjoy dances from other ethnic groups that were invited to attend the festival.
Monjeza disclosed that there will also will be music from DJ Moda and performance by Chancy Namoyo and Austin Sikelemu, among others.
Namoyo has confirmed that he will perform at the event and assured music lovers of maximum entertainment.
The Mulhako Wa Alhomwe annual festival provides a platform to showcase diverse aspects of Lhomwe tradition, history, music, dance, craft and cuisine.
At Mulhako Wa Alhomwe festival, attendees have the privilege to taste and appreciate a variety of Lhomwe food including Kalingonda and Makaka (dry cassava) and traditional local brewery of medicinal, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks such as nthubulo, masese and kachasu among others.
Paramount Chief Gomani assures police of chief support
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, October 2, Mana: Paramount Chief Gomani V of Ntcheu has assured police that the chiefs in the district will work hand in hand with the law enforcers to ensure that Ntcheu is a safe place to stay.
Paramount Chief Gomani V made the remarks on Tuesday during an interface meeting with Ntcheu Police on how the chiefs and police can combat crime in the district.
"I want to assure the police that as Maseko Ngoni Chief, I always want my people to be safe and protected from murder and all other criminal-related activities," said Gomani disclosing that he will encourage all his subordinates to take a leading role in sensitizing people against the vice in all the traditional and sub traditional authorities in the district.
Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani V appealed to the police to establish vibrant community policing forums as another way of combatting crime in the communities.
Officer-In-Charge for Ntcheu Police Assistant Commissioner Isaiah Mlowoka lamented the increase in suicide and murder cases in the district.
Mlowoka observed that although his office is sensitizing the communities, conducting school and church outreaches, and apprehending suspected criminals, still such cases are on the increase.
From January to September 2023, Ntcheu Police Station recorded 23 murder cases while in 2024 the station recorded 26 murder cases during the same period.
According to the police, most cases emanate from land disputes as well as mob justice.
