By Comfort Simbeye

Chitipa, February 21, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education(NICE) Trust says the media can play a crucial role in educating the masses about forthcoming general elections.

District Programmes Officer for NICE Trust, Lusako Swira made the remarks on Friday during a meeting with Chitipa District-based media practitioners at NICE offices in the district.

He said the media plays a significant role during the electoral process.

"The media civic educates people by disseminating information on elections, as well as fighting misinformation before elections," he said.

Swira then called for a strong collaboration between Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media to achieve tangible results.

"A good collaboration with the media will make our efforts as NICE Trust as well as other CSOs more fruitful since our information will reach the intended people easily," he said.

District Information Officer for Chitipa, Aliko Munde, hailed NICE Trust for the media engagement as the country is approaching the voter transfer exercise, which starts on February 25, 2025.

Munde acknowledged the crucial role the media practitioners play in civic and voter education.

"We as media practitioners have a big role to play during civic and voter education. Without media practitioners, issues of civic and voter education cannot be successful,” he said

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, February 21, Mana: Some vendors in Chitipa District have asked Chitipa District Council to consider constructing more market shades at Ibugulira Market in Senior Chief Mwenewenya in the district.

Godfrey Kaonga, who plies his trade at Ibugulira Trading Centre, said the two shades which were constructed by the district council are not enough to accommodate all the traders.

Kaonga said one market shade accommodated vegetable traders and the other shade accommodates fish sellers.

“Fish sellers are many and one shade for them is not enough. We need more market shades not only for fish sellers but even for other traders. If the district council can construct four other market shades it will help alleviate the challenge we are facing,” Kaonga said.

Another trader, Joice Mbale, said currently most traders have constructed grass-thatched benches, which he said are just temporary.

“If the district council can even allow traders to construct their shades or shops it can help improve the situation,” Mbale appealed.

Director of Public Works for Chitipa District Council, Engineer Misheck Gondwe said currently, the district council does not have plans to construct other shades at Ibugulira.

“The traders will be allowed to construct their structures after mapping the area by lands department,” Gondwe said.

The two Ibugulira Market shades were constructed under the District Development Fund (DDF).

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, February 21, Mana: Board chairperson for the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) Commissioner Richard Chapweteka has stressed the need for councils to effectively use the funds they are provided.

He made the remarks Thursday when the board of directors of NLGFC visited Dowa district council to appreciate projects and utilisation of funds being provided under different programs.

These include the District Development Fund, Government to Enable Service Delivery, Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program, Social Cash Transfer and others.

'Spending money is one thing but getting what you want done is another thing. So what we want is to look at issues first-hand.

"From experience, we have established that desk reports are not adequate because people can cook reports to meet expectations. That should give us a lesson that we cannot always trust desk reports," he said.

He said some councils have good plans on paper but structures on the ground prove otherwise, which he described as embarrassing.

Chapweteka added that much as the board cannot visit all the projects, a sample can provide insight into council activities.

"Apart from that, there is also the issue of quality as well which sometimes there is much to be desired. This could be because some councils take shortcuts in getting contracts which ends up with bad results.

"So our coming is to appreciate what you are doing, and where there are shortfalls, discuss and provide advice to make sure councils are doing the right things," he said.

In his remarks, District Commissioner Stallichi Mwambiwa thanked NLGFC for the support rendered to councils.

Also, for the team visit to the council which he said was full of lessons for the council.

During the day, the council made presentations on various programs and infrastructure development it is implementing.

The visiting team also conducted a field visit to appreciate projects and interventions under the SCTP.

One of the SCTP participants under Mbalame cluster Nason Kaseke applauded the initiative saying it has transformed his livelihood as he can now afford a decent house and provide food

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, February 21, Mana: At least 55 girls, mostly Form 2s and Form 4s at Lodjwa Community Day Secondary School in Kasungu have been rusticated for a week for protesting against the school diet.

A visit to the school on Friday found the girls flagging down vehicles along the M1 Road in search of transport to go home.

They claimed the diet at the school has been both inadequate and monotonous.

Headteacher for the school Charles Moyo explained that the students did not follow the right procedures to present their grievances to authorities.

"We were taken by surprise that there was some sort of commotion in protest against the diet today morning.

"Ideally, we expected the students to first report to us so that we find means of handling the matter. But their first step was to stage a protest," he said.

Moyo added that the learners' behaviour was strange and posed a risk to the school structures.

"To avoid the worst scenario, we called the police who managed to calm the situation.

"As management, we have agreed together with the Parents Teachers Association to send the students home for a week," he said.

Both the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Mphatso Nkuonera and the Education Division Manager for Central East Education Division, Charles Mthote were not available for comment.

By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, February 21, Mana: Inspector General (IG) of Police Merlyne Yolamu has described women in higher positions as game chargers saying their performance is beyond people’s expectations.

Yolamu made the sentiments in Lilongwe Friday during a day-long workshop for women in security institutions and implementing partners aimed at improving gender equality and designing affirmative actions for women and vulnerable populations.

“Gender mainstreaming is one of the critical strategies in achieving gender equality. It means recognizing and integrating the different concerns and realities of both women and men into policy-making, strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation,” she said.

Yolamu then urged women in different institutions to have confidence when discharging their duties and at the same time upgrade themselves in education.

“Since I was appointed to be the IG three years ago, I have achieved a lot of things that some of my male predecessors failed to achieve, this is because I have confidence in myself. So no woman should look down upon herself when given higher positions,” she said.

In her remarks, UN Women's Country Representative Letty Chiwara said the time has come for women to take a leading role in driving development, form policies and actions that bring all those that are left behind at the center of development.

Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) Secretary Habiba Osman thanked the Malawi Police and other security agencies for the training saying they will continue working closely with different organizations and institutions in making sure that the security of women in working places is not compromised.

“Our main role is to monitor if institutions, organizations, entities have got policies that protect women such as sexual harassment policy and look at issues of affirmative actions, particularly for women in decision making,” she said.

The workshop which was organized by Malawi Police Services in collaboration with MHRC with financial support from the EU drew women in security institutions from Malawi Police Services, Malawi Defense Force, Immigration and Malawi Prisons Services

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, February 15, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi has urged Malawians to take an active role in shaping ethical leaders by nurturing individuals with strong moral values from within their communities.

Speaking on Saturday at the burial of veteran broadcaster Lucius Chikuni in Thyolo, Usi emphasised that leadership begins at home, stating that “bad leaders come from bad people, and good leaders come from good people.”

“A lot of things are going wrong because we look up to politicians as role models. Yet, politicians come from within our communities, and their behaviour is shaped from there,” Usi said.

He further called on society to cultivate integrity and compassion in individuals from an early stage so that they become responsible and ethical leaders in various spheres, including politics, the church, and their professional careers.

“If we fail to do this, we will continue having bad politicians because we neglected to mould them from the start,” he warned.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi, Golden Matonga, hailed Chikuni as a pillar of Malawi’s media industry.

“Chikuni played a huge role in shaping the media landscape. He established The Inquiry newspaper, which provided a platform for critical discussions on how multiparty democracy could work.

“His influence extended to the establishment of Zodiak Radio and his appointment to an ambassadorial role,” Matonga said.

He described Chikuni as a professional with umunthu whose integrity was recognized across different administrations.

“In this election year, we should emulate his character by fostering unity rather than division and avoiding unnecessary tensions,” Matonga urged.

He also called on politicians in attendance to honour Chikuni’s legacy by respecting journalists and upholding their rights as they cover political rallies.

Veteran politician Ziliro Chibambo also paid tribute to Chikuni, describing him as a remarkable leader who contributed significantly to the fight for multiparty democracy in Malawi.

He said his contributions to the media and democracy remain a lasting legacy, inspiring future generations to uphold professionalism and ethical leadership.

By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, February 15, Mana: Blantyre District Council has approved a K44.6 billion budget to be implemented in the 2025/2026 financial year, mainly through projects, personal emoluments, and social protection programmes.

Presenting the budget at a full council meeting on Friday, Chairperson for the Finance and Audit Committee, Councilor Jeremia Jumbe, said personal emoluments have been allocated K35.1 billion, a 10 percent increase from the 2024/2025 budget, which was pegged at K31.8 billion.

He added that the development budget has jumped from K1.6 billion to K3.4 billion due to the introduction of the Regional Climate Resilience Programme 2.

Jumbe further said that under the Social Protection, the council had earmarked K7.2 billion for the Social Cash Transfer Programme and activities under the Climate-Smart Enhanced Public Works Programmes.

Blantyre District Council, Director of Finance, Martha Kabambe said, that through locally generated revenue, the council planned to collect K483.7 million from its various local sources, such as market fees, rentals from shops, development fees, licenses, and permits, among others.

She emphasised that locally generated revenue for the council has been increasing with each passing financial year, citing that in the 2022/2023 FY, the council collected revenue amounting to K429.8 million, while in the 2023/2024 FY, it collected K459 million.

“In 2024/2025, by January, the council had collected K493.7 million,” she added.

Councillor for Linjidzi Ward, Akima Chipwatali welcomed the budget, saying it speaks to the needs of local people.

“We welcome the budget, but we urge the government to provide the required funding in time so that the council expedites the implementation of various developmental projects among others, to fulfil its mandate,” she said.

Recently, during the review of draft budgets by local authorities in Blantyre, National Local Government Finance Committee, Executive Director, Kondwani Santhe applauded Blantyre District Council for performing well in revenue collection

By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, February 15, Mana: Blantyre District Council, through the Community Environmental Conservation Fund (CECF) under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP), has disbursed US$57,318 (approximately K99.2 million) to communities participating in environmental conservation in the district.

The cash presentations were made on Friday to 37 Village Natural Resources Management Committees (VNRMCs) in the micro-catchment areas of Namitondo, Nkajidi, Nkaladzi, and Mulanga where MWASIP is implementing its interventions.

District Project Coordinator, Owen Malimba told Malawi News agency (Mana) that the funds are meant to help communities participating in environmental restoration uplift their livelihood through small-scale business.

“This is the revolving fund used to provide micro-credit to community members involved in the VLAP activities under MWASIP while they are implementing the project activities.

“The funds are given upon successful implementation of sustainable land management (SLM) activities in their catchment areas as an incentive to communities that have done well in sustainable land management activities,” said Malimba.

He added that each VLAP received an annual grant of US$2,500 (approximately K4.3 million) upon reaching the targets in sustainable land management and forest management activities.

Masautso Lodson from the Mkaladzi micro-catchment, Traditional Authority Kunthembwe’s area whose club has received K4 million, hailed MWASIP for the grant, saying the money will be used for the intended purpose of improving their livelihood through small-scale business.

Senior Chief Kunthembwe of Blantyre thanked Blantyre District Council for implementing MWASIP interventions in the area, saying his area had registered a great impact regarding watershed management and improved livelihoods of his subjects.

The Traditional leader then described the provision of funds as timely and that it would motivate communities to put more effort into conserving the environment.

By Patience Longwe

Lilongwe, February 15, Mana: The Headteacher for Gwengere Primary School in Dedza, Sandram Nachiola highlighted the importance of coming into the Building Education Foundation Through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) programme at their school saying it will contribute to an educated community as learners at the school will have strong educational foundational skills contributing to their success throughout their academic journey.

Speaking at the end of a two-day teacher training on the BEFIT programme, Nachiola expressed optimism that once rolled out, table-based learning will enable Standard 1-4 learners to acquire literacy and numeracy skills.

“With this programme, we are expecting to witness retention of those who dropped out of school since they will get attracted by the tablets, cases of absenteeism will also be dealt with as learners will not want to miss the tablets. I will ensure that technology-based learning is fully embraced by all teachers” he said.

Nachiola Commended the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through the BEFIT programme for training all the teachers at the school, arguing if a designated teacher is absent, any teacher will be able to handle the lessons for that day.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Education Public Relations Officer, Mphatso Nkuonera said government remains committed to reducing learning poverty hence the rolling out of BEFIT programme throughout the country with a target of reaching all 6000 public schools by 2029.

“In schools where BEFIT is running, cases of absenteeism have reduced and there is an improvement in literacy and numeracy levels among learners who are now used to interactive tablet-based learning” he stated.

The BEFIT programme will continue to roll out to new schools each year and is expected to reach full scale serving all 6,000 Malawi primary schools by 2029

By Gift Wahuta

Blantyre, February 11, Mana: At least 2,000 households in Blantyre have been affected by heavy rains since the onset of rains last year.

Blantyre District Council, Disaster Risk Management Officer, Faith Khamula told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Saturday that the hardest-hit areas include Traditional Authorities Lundu, Kapeni, and Chigaru.

“We recorded cases of crop fields being washed away, houses and schools destroyed, among others,” she said.

Khamula said government, through Blantyre District Council and non-governmental organisations, supported affected households with food and non-food items such as maize, beans, soap, blankets, and plastic buckets.

“Organisations like the Malawi Red Cross Society and development partners, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are also assisting, particularly in areas where people were affected by Cyclone Chido,” she added and stated that no major displacements had been reported.

Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services (DCCMS) Spokesperson Yobu Kachiwanda noted significant differences in rainfall patterns this year compared to the last rainfall season.

“Last year’s rainy season was generally dry in the south and centre, but this year, many areas have experienced consistent heavy rains, especially from January onwards,” he added.

Kachiwanda cautioned the general public, including Blantyre residents, to brace for more heavy rains, storms, and potential flash floods in the coming weeks, saying there is a need to take precautional measures to avoid rains-related accidents.

“People should follow weather updates closely, ensure their homes are secure, and avoid living in disaster-prone areas,” he advised.

Blantyre Disaster Risk Management Office therefore stressed the importance of integrating disaster risk management into community projects to build resilience and reduce vulnerability