By Solister Mogha

Zomba, January 22, Mana: Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Jessie Kabwila has challenged University of Malawi (UNIMA) to strive for quality tertiary education and ensure that the college is competitive at international level.

Kabwila said this at UNIMA offices in Zomba as part of her tour to institutions of higher learning, adding that it was a concern to see college graduates failing to articulate issues and deliver as expected after going through corridors of an institution of higher learning.

She said the UNIMA and other colleges in the country should strive to produce well baked students that should work everywhere in the world.

“We want our degrees to be equal to that of China, USA and other countries. Our graduates should be able to find jobs on the international space with degrees they get from a Malawian college,” the minister added.

She said Ministry of Higher Education will soon be tabling education bill in parliament which will among others sanitize education systems in the country on top of checking on the mushrooming of “fake universities, buying of degrees and shortcuts in acquiring tertiary education,

"We have over 56 universities in the country and some are not up that standard. We want this to stop so that people should enroll with well-established colleges where lectures are qualified,” Kabwila said.

Apart from improving quality of education, the minister also appealed to the UNIMA to consider providing accommodation for students, observing that poor accommodation outside the campus compromises quality education.

“Something has to be done on accommodation. There is no way that only 1, 200 students should be accommodated in the campus out of the total 16,000 students,” she said.

UNIMA, Vice Chancellor, Prof, Samson Sajidu promised to uphold standards of education and keep the university competitive.

Prof Sajidu said the University is proud to have produced quality graduates who are contributing to national development and beyond.

“As a university, we have developed a number of policies aimed at improving education. We will strive to uphold standards of education by all means,” the Vice Chancellor added.

On accommodation, Sajidu said UNIMA was looking for partners willing to support construction of student hostels.

Earlier in the day, the minister visited Domasi College of Education in Zomba where she emphasized the same.

The minister was yet to visit Malawi College of Accountancy, University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS) formerly Malawi Polytechnic, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES) in Blantyre, Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Thyolo and Catholic University of Malawi at Nguludi Chiradzulu on Wednesday and Thursday,  

Kabwila also toured National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) offices at Area 47 in Lilongwe on Tuesday.

By Charlie Ligomeka

Machinga, January 22, Mana: The Civil Society Network on Climate Change (CISONECC) has warned people in Machinga to stop damaging the environment.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday at Puteya Primary School in Traditional Authority Chamba, CISONECC National Coordinator Julius Ng'oma said people must work together to protect the environment they are living in.

Ng'oma warned that environmental degradation, poaching, and climate change pose significant threats to Malawi's ecosystem and livelihoods.

"The future of our planet is in our hands and we must act now to protect our environment, or risk facing catastrophic consequences. We need community members to take ownership of protecting the forests, lakes, and wildlife," Ng'oma said.

Forest Officer responsible for prosecution at the Department of Forestry, John Kabiya echoed Ng'oma's sentiments, stressing that conserving the forest is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and sustaining wildlife.

Kabiya advised community members to obtain certification before cutting down trees or collecting forest products, citing the devastating impact of charcoal burning and deforestation on the environment.

"The forest is not just a collection of trees; it's rather a delicate ecosystem that supports a wide range of plant and animal species. We must protect it at all costs," he said.

Kambiya also warned that the forest department has taken a stern action against those found violating forest regulations.

"We will continue to crack down on environmental crimes, and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.  In the year 2024, we have made 736 arrests and secured over 650 convictions," he revealed.

Kabiya singled out charcoal burning as one of the biggest challenges facing the forestry sector, citing Neno and Mwanza as districts notorious for the practice.

Group Village Headman Nsiyama welcomed the engagement meeting on environmental management, saying it would transform the area into a better place to live.

"We thank CISONECC for helping us open our eyes to the importance of environmental conservation. This meeting has empowered us to take action, to become guardians of our environment, and to ensure a brighter future for generations to come," said Nsiyama.

The meeting, attended by community members, traditional leaders, and government officials from Machinga District Council was organized by CISONECC with funding from the Scottish Government, through the Climate Justice Fund.

By Donald Zimba

Lilongwe, January 22, Mana: In a rare show of unity, women leaders from various political parties and organizations came together to address the pressing issue of Violence Against Women in Elections (VAWE).

The solidarity press briefing, was held today at the Golden Peacock in Lilongwe.

The briefing which was organized by Oxfam and the Women's Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC) under the Women's Manifesto Movement, brought together stakeholders, including the Non-Governmental Organisation Gender Coordinating Network (NGO-GCN), the African Women Leadership Network, and cross-party Directorates of Women.

In her remarks, Minister of Gender Jean Sendeza, who also serves as the Director of Women for the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), emphasized the need for unity among women in politics.

“We at MCP are against the act of violence against women in politics. Every woman has a right to be respected regardless of the party she represents. Let us all hold hands to end violence that women face, especially during campaign seasons,” she stated.

Sendeza further encouraged women to lead by example and promote solidarity across political divides.

She added that as a ministry, there are several programs put in place to make sure that women's rights are protected and that the issue of violence towards women in elections is combated.

Emma Kaliya, Chairperson of the African Women's Movement, called for self-reflection among women leaders, urging them to avoid being the source of hatred towards one another.

“I have seen you hugging and embracing each other here in public; I hope it will not be a different story out there. We must change this culture of hate among ourselves,” she said, recalling the 2008 women’s march for their rights and expressing hope for a new chapter of unity.

NGO-GCN Chairperson, Maggie Kathewera Banda shed light on the increasing violence against women in Malawi, particularly in politics.

“This violence discourages aspiring women candidates and shows that adequate protection is lacking. We need the community, law enforcement, and organizations to work together to combat this menace,” she said.

The event saw participation from Directors of Women representing all major political parties in Malawi, including MCP, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the United Transformation Movement (UTM), the United Democratic Front (UDF), the People’s Party (PP), the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), and the People’s Development Party (PDP). Together, they reaffirmed their commitment to creating a safer and more inclusive political environment for women.

The call to action was clear: violence against women in politics must end. This historic display of unity sends a powerful message to the nation and underscores the importance of collaboration in addressing gender-based violence in all its forms.

By Patience Harawa

Karonga, January 22, Mana: Deputy Minister of Health, Noah Chimpeni has said construction of a state of the art gas plant at Karonga District Hospital will save lives of lots of people in the northern region.

Chimpeni made the sentiment on Tuesday when he toured the construction site for the gas plant being funded by the World Bank through Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) to the tune of $1.8 million.

He said the initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen Malawi’s health system and improve patient care.

“This oxygen plant will revolutionize healthcare in Karonga and surrounding districts. It is a game-changer, especially for patients with severe conditions like pneumonia, COVID-19 complications, and other respiratory challenges,” Chimpeni said.

"It will not only save lives of people in Karonga but the whole northern region by ensuring a reliable supply of medical oxygen for critical cases such as respiratory illnesses, surgical procedures and emergency care," he added.

According to the acting Director of Planning and Development for Karonga District Council, Khumbo Mkandawire, the plant is expected to produce medical-grade oxygen on-site hence it will reduce dependency on external suppliers and improve response times in emergency situations.

"Construction of the oxygen gas plant is expected to be completed by March 2025. Once operational, it will become one of several such facilities established nationwide to combat shortages of medical oxygen, an issue that came into sharp focus during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Mkandawire.

She added that currently, Karonga District Hospital procures oxygen from Afrox and Nkhoma Mission Hospital in Lilongwe which is costly considering the long distances.

In his remarks, Chairperson for Karonga District Council, Bellium Msukwa urged the contractors to maintain high standards of workmanship and ensure timely completion of the project.

“This facility is a testament to what can be achieved through collaboration between the government, international partners, and local stakeholders,” said Msukwa.

By Comfort Simbeye

Chitipa, January 22, mana: Deputy Minister of Health, Noah Chimpeni has urged Kameme Health Centre staff in Chitipa to do their best with the available resources, saying government is striving to have enough equipment in health facilities.

He said this on Tuesday when he inspected rehabilitated outpatient department (OPD) and newly constructed under-five clinic at the health center.

Chimpeni said that the project is aimed to ease access to some health services at Kameme, which are only available at Chitipa District Hospital.

He acknowledged the challenges faced by people in the area to access crucial health services due to the poor road network to the district hospital.

“I have noted that it is difficult for people here at Kameme to access health services because of the poor road network.

“This is why government is doing everything possible to make more health services available at Kameme Health Center so that people can be served at the health facility, which will help them to be assisted in time,” Chimpeni said.

District Medical Officer for Chitipa District Council, Dr. Victor Matumbo said that the longer distances from the health centers to the main hospital has reduced the quality of health services delivery in Chitipa District.

“During the rainy season, all our roads become impassable, whereby we sometimes use two ambulances to have a referral system that is functioning, which makes us use a lot of resources in terms of other recurrent transactions that the government allocates to us,” Dr. Matumbo said.

He asked the government and well-wishers to help with construction of staff houses which would facilitate transfer of staff from the district hospital to health centers.

Government under Renovation of Health Facilities in Malawi rehabilitated Kameme OPD and constructed under-five clinic to a tune of MK179 million and MK404 million respectively.

By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, January 22, Mana: Minister of Labour Vitumbiko Mumba has urged Technical Colleges and Vocational Training institutions in the country to sell out the innovations they develop so that they can increase their revenue bases.

Speaking in Mzuzu on Tuesday when he visited Mzuzu Technical College, Mumba applauded the fact that most institutions in the country are doing well in coming up with new innovations, however he noted that little is being done to market the same to the general public.

“I am aware that these colleges have some funding woes, but they can utilize their respective innovations by turning them into sources of generating income for themselves.

“For instance at Mzuzu Technical College, we have seen a solar powered charging facility which one can use to charge multiple gadgets at once. We have also seen a modern type of irrigation facility at Sonda which is a brain child of Mzuzu Technical College,” said Mumba.

Mumba said the institutions need to show what they can offer to the nation through development of more useful innovations which can lure stakeholder investment.

Julius Phiri, Principal for Mzuzu Technical College which is jointly run by Roman Catholic Church’s Mzuzu Diocese and Malawi Government through Ministry of Labour, appreciated the Ministerial visit noting it is a source of motivation to the students at the facility.

“Through visits like this one, our students get encouraged and motivated specifically if their respective innovations are appreciated.

“We have taken note of suggestions by the minister such that we will move on to get certification for some innovations which are already completed so that we can sale them out,” said Phiri.

Mumba who was in company of Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Labour Chikondano Mussa, Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) Executive Director Elwin Sichilora and other officials from Ministry of Labour has been in the northern region since Monday visiting both Private and Public facilities to check compliance on different labour related laws.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, January 22, Mana: Police in Dowa have arrested nine Ethiopian nationals aged between 16 and 23 for allegedly residing at Dzaleka Refugee Camp without proper documentation.

Dowa police station Public Relations Officer, Alice Sitima, said through the Officer in Charge (OC) Almakio Daka, police received information indicating that some Ethiopians residing in the camp were harboring fellow nationals who lacked valid travel documents.

"Acting on this intelligence, the OC and his team conducted a search of a suspected residence within the camp, which led to the discovery of the nine individuals concealed within the home of Tsadat Tseleka, a 24-year-old Ethiopian national.

"Upon questioning them, the suspects failed to provide documentation verifying their legal stay in Malawi, which led to their arrest," said Sitima.

She added saying the detainees will soon appear in court to answer charges leveled against them.

Also, that investigations are under way to identify and apprehend anyone involved in harboring illegal immigrants.