MANAonline
Five injured in Likoma fire accident
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, May 19, Mana; Fire ignited by petrol, razed down a house belonging to Necksan Matekenya at Kabuthu Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Mkumpha in Likoma District on Friday, injuring five members of his family.
Public Relations Officer for Likoma Police, Enala Kalua confirmed the incident in an interview on Saturday.
She said household properties worth millions of Kwacha were also destroyed in the inferno which started at around 18:00 hours.
“According to Matekenya’s account, his boys were siphoning petrol from a large container into small bottles ready to go to the lake for fishing and one bottle fell down igniting fire from a charcoal stove.
“Responding to the report, police along with members of the community rushed to the scene and found all property in the house worth millions of Kwachas were already burnt to ashes” said Kalua.
She said the five family members were rushed to St Mary’s Mission Hospital where one of them was referred to St Peters Hospital in the same district for further treatment.
Meanwhile, police in the district are appealing to members of the community to refrain from keeping flammable substances in houses to avoid similar incidents.
Hostel block construction to boost girl’s education
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, May 18, Mana: Learners at Chowo Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chitekwere in Lilongwe have expressed excitement over the construction of a girl’s hostel at the school, saying it will boost their education performance.
Holliness Chanudza, a form four student who is also a Head-girl at the school said girls have been facing challenges on their way to and from the school.
She said men have been coaxing the girls into marriage, taking advantage that some of them used to walk long distance to get to school.
Said Chanudza: “We are so happy to have such a facility at our school. This will boost our performance during examinations and this will also increase enrolment of girls since many of them have been dropping out of school due to early marriage and pregnancies.
“Our colleagues before us have been getting poor results because they were coming to class tired with household chores and walking long distances, but for us, we will be going out with flying colours because we will have enough time for study.”
Lophina Banda who was doing self-boarding near the school said the girl’s hostel will provide security to the girls as they will now be monitored by their teachers.
“Self-boarding is not safe to girls as some men and boys were coming during night hours to disturb us and it was difficult to concentrate on our studies, but now we are safe and we can see our bright future and fully focus on what we want to be,” she said.
Grem Majamanda, a Head teacher at the school said teachers are ready to look after the girls at the hostel and will not allow intruders to disturb them.
“It has been difficult for us to monitor our girls in their rented homes and this has contributed to school drop-outs, but with the coming in of this hostel, our girls are now safe,” he said.
According to Majamanda, the school has an enrolment of over 300 leaners, many of them girls.
The MK96 million Chowo CDSS hostel construction with its beds and mattresses has been funded by the World Bank, through the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project implemented through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC).
Minister concerned with identification irregularities
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, May 18, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza has expressed concern over some irregularities which affect identification process of beneficiaries of safety net programmes.
She was speaking Saturday at Kawuwa Primary School in Mzuzu City when she interfaced with some beneficiaries of Shock Emergency Cash Transfer Programme.
Sendeza said that it was shocking to receive reports that beneficiary identification procedures were marred with a lot of irregularities, leading to missing out of eligible individuals who were supposed to benefit from the initiative.
“For instance, I received a complaint that one of the eligible individuals with disability, Grace Mhango, from Luwinga in Mzuzu was missed from the beneficiary list. This is one of the indications that the process was not conducted in a just manner,” the Minister explained.
She said government initiated the programme to reduce the impact of economic shocks on the elderly, people with disabilities, female and orphan headed households among other vulnerable individuals.
“Government noted that city residents are equally in need of such safety net interventions as those living in rural areas.
“The country’s economic status was affected by several factors which include, natural disasters such Cyclone Freddy, El-Nino, Covid -19 and peace instability in some countries. These have affected both city residents and rural masses, hence the intervention,” Sendeza said.
The Minister appealed local authorities to ensure that lower structures which facilitate beneficiary identification of various interventions are of high integrity to avoid same beneficiaries from benefiting from various safety net programs.
“No individual should benefit from both Agricultural Input Programme, free food distribution and Social Cash Transfer Programme among others,” she advised.
Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) or Mzuzu City Council, Dr. Lilian Chirwa said the council delayed in implementing the programme due to coordination issues amongst various structures and players who are involved in the programme.
“We received several complaints from eligible beneficiaries but left out by the structures which were mandated to carry out the identification process, as such we appeal to government to consider extending the support to such people,” she said.
One of the beneficiaries, Pauline Gondwe of Masasa, thanked government for the programme through which each beneficiary is given K150,000.00 saying she would use part of the money to pay schools fees for her child and invest the remaining amount into village saving and loan group of her area.
“I have today with my naked eyes seen God walking through this programme. I do not know how I can thank the government for this,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Nkhambule Kamanga from Masasa, said she would contribute some of the money to 30-member Community Savings and Investment Promotion group which interns to embark on piggery business.
The initiative has distributed K1.8 Billion to 12,000 beneficiaries in Mzuzu City.
New Land laws to solve encroachment of park
By Elia Chibwe
Lilongwe May 18, Mana: Kasungu District Council has said the council with the support from government of Flanders through Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) is in the initial stages of implementing new land laws to prevent communities from encroaching into protected areas.
District Commissioner (DC) for Kasungu, James Kanyangalazi disclosed this Friday that the initiative would ensure communities surrounding the protected areas register their land parcels.
"Amongst the laws that we are implementing is the customary land act, 2016, as amended in 2022. One of such ambitions is the customary land registration.
"This is the initiative that will make sure that communities surrounding the protected areas such as Kasungu National Park, register their land parcels. This will make communities aware of their land parcels boundaries, hence reduction in encroachment onto the protected areas," he said.
Kanyangalazi said so far, they have already sensitized all communities residing along the boundaries of the protected areas about this initiative and consequences for law breakers.
"During the sensitization meetings, communities are also informed of the adverse consequences unlawful use or cultivation in these protected areas," he said.
The DC said the communities around the Park have been advised to grow crops along the park boundaries that don't attract elephants like tobacco, sunflower and paprika.
Park Manager for Kasungu National Park, Ndaona Kumanga said encroachment was a big challenge that has greatly affected Kasungu National Park.
"Encroachment is one of the issues that we are addressing. In both sides of Zambia and Malawi, people are extending their farms into a protected area. This is a very big challenge in the park," he pointed out.
Kumanga said Chisinga side in the northern tip of the park as greatly affected side where they managed to arrest some people two years ago.
He said community members of Chulu area protruded inside the park, the thing which caused conflict with the park department.
"Apart from Chisinga we had Chulu community. When we were trying to put up the fence that side, it happened that community members protruded inside the park, so when we tried to put the fence line people started making some noise to say the fence is taking their part," the Manager said.
Kumanga said he believes that the fence that is being constructed would assist in solving challenges of encroachment.
Director of Forestry, Titus Zulu said the challenge of encroachment was not limited to parks but forests have been greatly affected in the country.
"Several forests in the country have been affected by encroachment challenges. This includes significant area within Dzalanyama Forest Reserve, among others. The exact number of affected forests is continuously monitored through our National Monitoring Unit," he added.
According to Zulu, 88 forests in the country have been affected with encroachment challenges.
ODL instrumental to development
By Paul Madise
Lilongwe, May 18, Mana: Nalikule College of Education has said that Open Distance Learning (ODL) remains instrumental to move the country into upper middle income.
Deputy Principal for Nalikule College of Education, Mathias January made the remarks Saturday in Lilongwe during the celebration ceremony of ODL Day.
He said ODL could help to achieve an inclusively wealthy and self-reliant industrialized, upper-middle-income country.
The Deputy Principal added that in a bid to attain the Malawi 2063 National Education Policy (NEP), the Authorities of Nalikule College of Education have commended government for initiating and effectively spearheading the implementation of the US$ 3.3 million Skills for a Vibrant Economy (Save) project.
January disclosed that the institution plans to enroll 1000 students per academic year reaching out to 5,000 students through the whole project implementation.
He expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the project citing its relevance in addressing some education challenges which include education facilities and sophisticated educational skills.
"By implementing this project we believe that we are going to help a good number of students since Mathe Lawian Education corridor cannot accommodate every student," January added.
Senior Group Village Head, Chinoko Kawenga from the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chimutu said the coming of the project signifies the strategic approach to improving manpower skills and promotion of entrepreneurship.
The Project is coming with the construction of computer Lab, offices and Library is being financed by the World Bank and Malawi government implementing partners through the Ministry of Education.
The Celebration attracted traditional leaders from around the community, parents and secondary school students from Malikha Community Day Secondary School (CDSS), Magwero CDSS, Mseche CDSS and Nalikule Demonstrations.
Embrace regular BP checks
By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, May 18, Mana: Country Leader for May Measurement Month (MMM) in Malawi, Henry Ndhlovu has encouraged Malawians to be taking part in regular Blood Pressure (BP) checks as one way of preventing complications like Stroke and unwanted deaths due to raised BP.
He was speaking at Nyasa Ground in Area 49 in Lilongwe on Friday where they held some activities as part of this year’s world Hypertension Day which falls on May 17 each year.
Ndhlovu, who is also Managing Director for Moyowathu HealthCare Services emphasized that the MMM activities compliment government’s efforts of ensuring more people access awareness and screening services for BP.
One of the block leaders of Area 49, Fungai Piyo thanked Moyowathu Health Care Services for the BP checks and encouraged people of the area to participate so that they know their BP status.
MMM is a global blood pressure screening awareness campaign, launched in 2017 by the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and its aim is to highlight the importance of measuring BP and to raise awareness of the dangers posed by elevated BP and Hypertension.
Malawi started participating in MMM upon inception in 2017 due to membership with the ISH by Ndhlovu.
According to results of MMM22 it is estimated that in Malawi 27.3 percent have raised BP, putting them at risk of some serious long-term complications if left untreated and further to this it was identified that 72.6 percent of people with Hypertension were not aware that they had the condition.
Portray good image of Malawi
By Evance Chisiano
Blantyre, May 18, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu has appealed to Malawian media to portray good image of Malawi as the country would host more than 600 delegates.
The conference will attract foreign participants to the first ever population conference at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe from May 20 to 24, 2024.
He made the appeal on Saturday at Amaryllis Hotel in Blantyre where he addressed a press briefing alongside Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda ahead of 9th Africa Population Conference.
Kunkuyu disclosed that Prime Minister of Iceland, RT, Hon, Benediktsson and many foreign delegates are expected to attend the conference.
“We believe the media will play an important role during the conference. Let us tell visitors well about Malawi. Write stories that will portray good image about Malawi,” he appealed to reporters that attended the press briefing.
The Conference is expecting closer to 100 young generations from higher learning institutions, researchers, and delegates from ministries, departments, Civil Society Organizations and agencies of top of foreign delegates to discuss issues of population and their negative impact on socio-economic development in Africa.
The Minister disclosed that President would open the conference on May 20, 2024 which would be held under the theme ‘Road to 2030; Leveraging Africa’s Human Capital to Achieve Transformation in a World of Uncertainty’.
He said this was Malawi’s opportunity to shine to the world through its warm heartedness and rich cultural diversity and natural resources.
“Malawi will get international visibility and will benefit a lot on tourism and hospitality,” Kunkuyu added.
He appealed to all Malawians to give foreign delegates a warm welcome to Malawi so that Malawi should reflect what it is.
“If we can’t give them a hand, let’s give them a smile,” the Minister added.
Prime Minister of Iceland will visit Mangochi next week to appreciate support that his government has been rendering to Malawi especially in the health sector.
Minister of Finance, Banda said African faces numerous challenges on issues to do with population and its impact such that the conference would discuss and provide solutions to such issues.
“The Conference will provide plat form for researchers to share knowledge on population dynamics,” he said and anticipated that the Conference shall provide collaboration among stakeholders to find lasting solution of issues of growing populations that impact on national economies.
Five GESD projects handed over to contractors
By Linda Likomwa
Phalombe, May 18, Mana: Phalombe District Council has said the implementation of five funded Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project would improve delivery of services in the district.
Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for the Council, Kelvin Harawa said this Friday when the Council handed over five construction works for commencement to contractors which will be implemented (GESD funds.
He said the Council would implement five projects namely; Migowi market, installation of streets rights at three major centers, Muthuka Police Unit, Mulapo Early Childhood Development Centre (ECD) and a classroom block at Chazinga Primary School.
Harawa added that the five projects are expected to boost local revenue collection, enhance security and improve education standards in the district.
"If we are to collect more revenue, we should be able to provide good environment for businesses which would motivate people to be paying market fees without problems. For to achieve meaningful development, we also need to look at ways of improving education standards from the tender age and this is why we want to construct ECD center among the projects,” the DPD said.
District Commissioner (DC for Phalombe, Douglas Moffati said there was need for people in the district including contractors to refrain from corruption to avoid compromising the quality of the projects.
"Corruption is evil and it drain resources away from the objectives therefore my office is not going to tolerate any element of corruption. We want each and every penny to be used on these projects so that by the end of four months’ people should start using the facilities," he said.
Members of the business community welcomed the streets lights project saying that businesses would be done till late hours and communities from Traditional Authority(TA) Namasoko had all the smiles since they had been waiting for 27 years to have a Police Unit in the area to enhance security.
The Community members at Namasoko recalled that two business people were shot dead and robbed in their homes because they had no Police facility in the area.
The Contractors; Kwende Building Construction, Site Guys, Cardworks Infrastructure, Ganizani Likhomo Building Contractors and Inka Building Contractors will do the projects are people in the district look forward to commence and finish in good time.
With support from World Bank, National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) gave Phalombe District Council K1. Billion to implement five projects to be complete in four months beginning from May.
NICE calls for peace and unity
By Willy Kadewere
Chikwawa, May 18, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust has said various stakeholders need to be involved in promoting peace and unity in their areas.
NICE Trust held an engagement meeting with key stakeholders at Traditional Authority (TA) Maseya in Chikwawa to discuss peace and unity following aconflict a between community members and Kasinthula Cane Growers in April, 2024.
The meeting, which took place on Friday included officials from Chikwawa District Council, Police, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), traditional leaders under TAs Maseya, Kasinthula, Cane Growers, Illovo Sugar Company among others stakeholders.
NICE Trust, District Programmes Officer, Kondwani Malunga described the meeting as successful as it brought together all key stakeholders.
He hailed the meeting as it allowed community members of Maseya to voice their concerns which were addressed by the relevant duty bearers from the Chikwawa District Council, Police, CSOs, and the companies.
“Through this meeting, we expect peace and unity to be restored as the traditional leaders will address the community on the agreed action points," he said.
Senior Chief Maseya hailed NICE Trust for facilitating the meeting, which has helped many people understand human rights and how to exercise their rights without infringing on the rights of others.
“I urge all traditional leaders to share with their subjects what they have learned from this meeting, especially about human rights and how to exercise them to ensure everyone's safety,” he said.
Meanwhile, Police have assured the people of Maseya of increased security in the area and the entire district.
The Police have urged residents to collaborate with them in order to reduce crime and security lapses.
Embrace AI systems
By Beni Bamusi
Thyolo, May 18, Mana: Professionals and students have been urged to embrace the use of crossing cutting edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems which has revolutionized the workplace and academia to ensure productivity and efficiency.
The call was made on Friday at Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Thyolo during AI Awareness Day, which was being commemorated under the theme; ‘Embracing AI for Unlocking Professional Potential.
The AI Awareness Day was organized by the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Science Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics subjects.
Addressing the audience, Malawi Institute of Technology, Executive Dean, Michael Zimba said AI has changed the academia and workplace landscape for the better.
“Students are now able to perfect their Thesis and improve on what they might miss. In a work place, AI is being used in the health care to monitor patients how they are responding to treatment,
“This entails that if we do not embrace AI system we will be left behind,” he told them.
Zimba urged students to explore AI to unlock their various potential while being mindful of all the ethical considerations as failure to do so might cause harm to individuals and even chaos in a society.
During the AI Awareness Day, Precious Kakwete and her colleagues doing internship at Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) showcased their Automated Employee Attendance System, the Chat Board as well as the Automatic Number Plate Recognition System which they have developed.
She said the Automated Employee Attendance System would replace manual log in system and will help HR personnel to track and check the time an employee reports for work using fingerprint.
"The Chat Board will be used for data visualization and quick summary of data from debases whereas the Automatic Number Plate Recognition System uses machine learning and AI to track cars entering and leaving MRA premises.
"The system scans vehicle number plate and is able to display number plate and information of the vehicle as well as the owner of the vehicle. Through the logbook it displays number of number of vehicles on the premises," she said.
One of the Alumnus and Lecturer at the Institution, Peter Mwambananji showcased a Soil Crop Suitability System used in agriculture.
“The innovation takes features of soil and compare with different features of the soil in the database and depict which crop is suitable for the soil.
"The enthusiasm came in after I failed on soya beans farming due to unsuitability of soil for soya beans farming hence developing the system to make it smooth for those who would want to venture into agribusiness but do not know how to choose crops basing on the type of soil they have,” he said.
Some final year students pursuing Biomedical Engineering Programme led by William Chonzi displayed their deep learning machine for measles diagnosis.
He said the tool was time efficient compared to PCR which takes four hours to diagnose a patient which he said is not viable during an outbreak.
Chonzi said Biomedical Engineering bridges the gap between medicine and engineering.
AI Centre at MUST was introduced in 2023.
