MANAonline
Stormy rains destroy property in Chitipa
By Aliko Munde
Chitipa, October 28, Mana: Stormy rains coupled with hailstorms on Monday destroyed houses and property at Ipenza and Navitengo areas in the area of Senior Chief Kameme in Chitipa District.
Disaster Risk Management Officer for Chitipa, Mphatso Nedson confirmed the occurrence, saying two children have sustained minor injuries during the disaster.
“Two children sustained minor injuries and have been treated as outpatients at ipenza health post,” Nedson said.
He further said that the magnitude of the damage will be established after an assessment.
One of the community members at Ipenza, John Siame, said that so far more than 30 houses have their roofs blown off and households properties have been damaged.
The disaster comes a day after shops belonging to Chitipa District Council at Nthalire Trading Centre were blown off due to strong winds.
Chakwera urges authorities to be transparent
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Dedza, October 29, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has called on authorities to be transparent when distributing maize and fertilizer to benefit local Malawians.
Chakwera made the remarks on Tuesday during his whistle-stop tour, at Kaphuka Trading Center in Dedza Central East.
The president said the hunger situation has affected many people in the country because of the erratic rains as such it is important that the maize that the government is distributing should reach each and every one.
“It is important for the local authorities to ensure that all people have received maize as well as an increase of beneficiaries in the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP),” he said.
The president stated that it is important that people go and register to vote so that they should have access to vote come 2025.
In his remarks, Member of Parliament for Dedza Central East, Joshua Malango appreciated the support that the government is providing to the constituency saying many people are benefiting.
He further said the increase of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has changed the area as they now have many development projects taking place.
Communities construct stone bunds to tame floods in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, October 28, Mana: Communities in the area of Traditional Authority M'bwana in Nkhata Bay have constructed stone bunds surrounding Nthezulu Mountain under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CSE-PWP) to control crops and homes from floods during the rainy season.
In an interview Monday during a media tour, Ackim Wana a participant of the programme from Sasasa catchment said every year the community experiences floods resulting from uncontrolled running water from up the mountain.
“Last year, floods affected several households here at Usisya leaving people in poverty. We lost crops in the field and homes were damaged.
"However through CSE-PWP we have managed to construct stone bunds of about three kilometres each down the mountain which will be controlling water, giving protection to our crops and homes," Wana said.
Another participant of the programme, Sophie Chidazi, 64, said the stone bunds will not only control floods but also help to reclaim the lost fertility of the soil.
“These stone bunds will help to control land degradation, water conservation and control soil erosion hence giving us increased crop yield”, Chidazi said.
According to Chidazi, other activities communityy members are doing through the programme to conserve the environment include natural tree regeneration, gully reclamation, brushwood and making swales.
In his remarks, CSE-PWP District Programmes Facilitator, Edward Ngwemba said he was impressed to see that almost all 14 catchments of the programe are registering successes.
“We have just finished the second phase of continuous arrangement implementation of the programme. So far so good as communities have now taken ownership of the programme.
"I am quite optimistic that we will continue registering the strides in the subsequent phases ahead," Ngwemba said.
According to Ngwemba, government has increased the number of participants in Nkhata Bay from 11,233 to 15,418 and they are getting K48 000.00 after working for 30 days.
The CS-EPWP is a major component of the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP), which was established to promote rehabilitation of degraded micro-watersheds and restore natural resources.
The program is being implemented across the country through the National Local Government Finance Committee with support from Multi-Donor Trust Fund and World Bank.
Mzuzu City Council dominates bylaws to its residents
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, October 29, Mana: Mzuzu City Council (MCC), in its efforts to enhance law and order within its jurisdiction, over the weekend disseminated community bylaws to its residents through various stakeholders who among others included ward development committees and block leaders.
In an interview Tuesday, Vice Mayor for the MCC, Monica Simwaka said that the development and dissemination of community-centered by-laws complement the city’s mission of taking back the city to its residents.
She said the laws are localized as their formulation was championed by the people themselves, hence she was optimistic that the initiative will contribute to community empowerment towards well-corroborated efforts in making the city a desired habitable place for all.
“This marks a great milestone for Mzuzu City and its residents as far as the promotion of a participatory approach in making the city a desirable place for improved livelihoods, education and business investment among others,” said Simwaka.
She then commended Habitat for Humanity Malawi, SOS Children’s Village, Hlang’anisa Institute for Development for supporting consultation sessions during the formulation of the bylaws.
Chairperson for Mzilawayingwe Ward Development Committee, Enoch Chirwa urged his colleagues in the council’s 15 wards to be in the forefront in ensuring that people own the laws for easy enforcement.
“The bylaws were developed by the people themselves, therefore they should be adhered to consistently across all the wards, as such, I call every one of us to take these laws back to the formulators for implementation,” said Chirwa.
He then commended Habitat for Humanity Malawi for playing a leading role in all stages of the development of the bylaws through its ‘Strengthening an all-inclusive disaster preparedness for early warning and action in Mzuzu City’ with support from UNDP.
Project Coordinator for strengthening an all-inclusive disaster preparedness for early warning and action in Mzuzu City, Esther Moyo applauded all structures at council and ward level for their commitment to facilitating the formulation of the bylaws.
Associate Professor Ngeyi Kanyongolo no more
By Evance Chsiano
Blantyre, October 29, Mana: Catholic University of Malawi, Vice Chancellor, Associate Professor, Ngeyi Ruth Kanyongolo has died, 58 at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital in Blantyre today (October 28, 2024) after short illness.
Kanyongolo, a renowned lawyer and longtime legal scholar died after Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) appointed her as third Vice Chancellor of the Catholic University of Malawi, effective March 5, 2024.
Kanyongolo selflessly served in many positions in the academia, corporate world and was also human rights activists who actively promoted women rights.
She obtained Bachelors of Law at the University of Malawi (UNIMA) formerly Chancellor College in 1991 and Master’s Degree in 1997 from University of London.
In 2000 she joined UNIMA as law lecturer and later obtained PhD in Law from the University of Warwick UK in 2007.
Born Ngeyi Jumbe, she retired from UNIMA in 2023 after serving for 23 years
Late Kanyongolo was until her death an active member of the Catholic Church, serving in many dioceses and parish level positions in Zomba and was a member of Catholic Women Association (CWA) in the Zomba Diocese.
She was last seen in public, as CWA member on October 12, 2024 at St. Montfort Chiluwe Catholic Outstation, in Zomba during CWA prayers,
According to Malawi 24’s Zomba correspondent, Raphael Likaka who mostly cover CWA events.
Family members said details of funeral will be announced shortly.
Chakwera calls upon Malawians to honour veterans and ex-servicemen
By Eunice Lole
Lilongwe, October Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has stressed the importance of reflecting upon and emulating the commitment and dedication of veterans and ex-servicemen in the country’s historical struggle for freedom.
Chakwera made the remarks on Monday during the official inauguration of Poppy Week at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.
“We are here to honour those sons and daughters of the soil who have selflessly volunteered, made sacrifices, served, fought and given their lives for our freedom, we are here to declare publicly that it is their dedication that merits our deepest recognition and we are here to express our gratitude by vowing to not only remember their contributions but also by emulating their example of their service to our country in any way we can approximate it during the peace time which we now enjoy on their account,” he said.
He added that the poppy symbolizes both the blood that purchased our freedom and the resilience of those who returned home from the frontlines.
Chakwera therefore, urged Malawians to actively contribute to the noble cause by supporting the initiative through the purchase of the poppy distributed nationwide.
As a way of showing his commitment and dedication to supporting the initiative, President Chakwera has contributed the sum of MK2 million.
In his address, the Chairperson of Veterans and Ex-Service League (VELOM), General Henry Odilo (retired), commended the President for his support towards Poppy Week aimed at fundraising for the cause.
He highlighted the significance of Poppy Week in supporting VELOM members to enhance their livelihoods.
Odilo hailed government’s commitment in ensuring VELOM achieves its objectives. He further acknowledged the Malawi Defense Force and other key stakeholders for their unwavering dedication and support towards VELOM’s mission.
Chakwera encourages impartiality in the 10th June plane crash investigation
By Eunice Disi Lole
Lilongwe, October 28, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has urged the newly sworn in members of the Commission of Inquiry on the 10th June plane crash to work with impartiality in the investigation.
Chakwera made the remarks on Monday during the swearing in ceremony of members of the Commission of Inquiry on the 10th June plane crash at Kamuzu palace.
On 25th October, the president appointed a 19-member commission to look into the circumstances of the plane crash following his pledge during the funeral ceremony for late Dr. Saulosi Chilima on 16th June.
“I know that the establishment of the commission of enquiry seemed to have taken long but it is because there were a number of procedures that needed to be followed in order to avoid appointing an unreliable Commission,” he said.
He added that he had planned to conduct the investigation of the plane crash in three phases which included finding out the cause of death of the deceased but also finding out if there were any survivors when the plane crashed not only that but also finding out what caused the plane to crash.
Furthermore the president asked the members of the Commission to execute their duties with diligence and ignore biasness and political pressure on the matter, emphasising the importance of scrutinizing the events leading to the plane crash.
The president expressed optimism that the commission would deliver its investigative findings by the end of November, providing clarity on the circumstances in unveiling the details surrounding the aircraft accident.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet, Coleen Zamba, stressed the importance of the Commission in unveiling the details surrounding the aircraft accident.
Zamba emphasized that as per Section 5 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, the appointed individuals must adhere to the oaths prescribed in the Malawian Constitution.
The Commission is expected to present its findings to President Chakwera by 30th November, 2024.
Lack of mobile phone networks hinder rural digital payments
By: Brighton Thengoliweta Chimsinde
Mchinji, October 28, Mana: People in rural areas of Traditional Authorities (TAs) Ndawambe and Mkanda in Mchinji District have raised concerns that lack of access to mobile phone network is a major challenge that discourages them from adopting and using digital finance services.
The people raised concerns during a digital finance service (DFS) awareness campaign being held in the Mchinji district.
Traditional Authority Ndawambe said it was difficult to switch to mobile phone money transactions because the area does not have a mobile phone network.
“Despite the goodness of the service, people in the area are denied access due to lack of the mobile phone network of either Airtel or TNM. We are pleading with mobile phone network operators to erect a network tower as soon as possible for us to enjoy the services,” TA Ndawambe said.
Another person who also expressed network concerns was a head teacher at Mkanda Secondary School, Marcel Elifala who asked mobile phone network providers to strengthen their network's capacity for it to be accessible everywhere and all the time.
“I have been using the services since the introduction of mobile phones money transactions and it is good in terms of security and reduces time consumption. However, I am requesting the relevant authorities to boost mobile phone networks and that it be accessible to all parts of the district,” Elifala said.
Elifala also described the service fees incurred when doing electronic money transactions as being exorbitant.
In an interview with Support for Digitalization Financial Inclusion and Campaign Competitiveness Project`s E-Trade Specialist, Sangwani Mkandawire, said he was encouraged that mobile network operators are being involved during the campaign for them to see how best they can also respond to the consumers' concerns.
“The campaign has helped to expose challenges encountered by the consumers and mobile network operators need to see how best they can respond to consumers' concerns and how they can protect their customers,” said Mkandawire.
The campaign is spearheaded by the Ministry of Finance and Reserve Bank of Malawi with funding from the African Development Bank Group (AFDB).
Educate a Child programme promoting education in Thyolo
By Beni Bamusi
Thyolo, October 28, Mana: Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) in partnership with Education Above All Foundation is implementing Educate a Child (EAC) programme to improve education for the vulnerable children in Thyolo District by providing essential learning materials.
Senior Data Analyst from Education Above All Foundation, Joshua Maina expressed satisfaction over the programme when a district level monitoring team toured Mkaombe Primary School where it interacted with teacher mentors and other education stakeholders too appreciate EAC progress.
"The practical work on the ground is more reassuring than what we read in reports. The dedication shown by learner guides, teacher mentors, and other stakeholders is truly impressive. The programme is having a real impact," said Maina.
Maina acknowledged some challenges as the programme had resource constraints, limiting its ability to reach more learners.
Chief Education Officer for Thyolo, Rabecca Misili, hailed the two organizations for jointly implementing EAC in the district, saying the programme helped to improve enrollment and retention of learners in the targeted schools.
"The introduction of entitlements, learner guide sessions, study circles, and home visits has brought significant impact.
"Since its introduction, Educate a Child has enabled 545 learners (296 girls and 249 boys) to get selected to secondary school. This is a clear sign of improved performance," added Misili.
She noted that other schools borrowed a leaf to introduce child protection guidelines, including the use of complaint boxes to address concerns in their respective schools.
Teacher mentor at Mkaombe Primary School, Asireni Jeffrey, said EAC has a psychosocial support component that helps to address challenges such as child abuse and other negative factors that affect child education.
She also acknowledged that EAC programme reduced absenteeism, particularly among girls who previously missed classes during menstruation, saying the programme introduced ways and means of addressing menstrual health and hygiene among girls in schools.
Standard eight learner and programme beneficiary, Deborah Magalasi, expressed gratitude, saying the programme brought positive impact on both retention and enrollment on top of improving menstrual health and hygiene.
"The support we receive encourages us to stay in school despite the economic challenges in our families.
"The entitlements help us focus on our education and motivate us to work hard," she said, and appealed for continued support to ensure that most girls stay in school,” she added.
Launched in 2022, the EAC targets 103 primary schools in Thyolo, providing students with essential learning materials such as uniforms, shoes, and sanitary pads for menstrual health and hygiene.
Minister calls for accountability on children’s issues
