By: Golden Kang'oma

Salima, October 25, Mana: Salima District Community Development Office, has geared up efforts to revamp and reorganize Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups, in order address the social and economic challenges faced by local communities.

Speaking during a stakeholder orientation on Thursday, Salima District Community Development Officer (DCDO), Samuel Chimwaza expressed excitement about the potential of reorganizing the Savings and Loans technical working groups, which he said would uplift community livelihoods.

He said: "In Salima, we have more than 2,200 Village Savings Loan (VSL) groups registered with the Community Development Office, however, there are still more than 60 percent of the groups that are not registered.

"This means that over 2,500 groups are not yet accounted for, representing about 40 percent of the total, so this will help to enhance our working relationship and make sure that every group is accounted for,” he said.

Chimwaza pointed out that VSL's have made significant contributions in addressing social and economic issues in Salima, particularly in providing a buffer against climate-related catastrophes and ensuring food security.

 “The VSLs have become a form of social support, helping communities address income security and purchasing power, especially in the face of food shortages and other economic challenges," he said.

He said funds from VSLs have been instrumental in supporting community initiatives, such as assisting school-going children with fees and improving overall household welfare hence revamping the structures.

However, Chimwaza emphasized the need for improved data collection on the contributions of VSLs.

“We need to quantify the impact of these groups both in terms of numbers and their qualitative impact on people’s lives and how they affect mental health, family cohesion, and economic stability,” he said.

Field Facilitator for Action Aid under the Tipindule project, Pamela Likoswe, said the initiative is very crucial, noting the importance of linking VSLs with formal financial institutions.

“So far, we’ve reached 293 groups, with a total membership of 7,302 people in Traditional Authority Kuluunda, and this engagement aimed at revamping the technical working groups will help strengthen collaboration with stakeholders and formalize more village savings groups,” she said.

Likoswe said most VSL'S groups have been losing a lot of money because they had no proper training and people were defaulting loans, observing the revamping of the groups will help seal the gaps that were there before.

By Vida Msiyo

Blantyre, October 25, Mana: The Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture through the Department of Peace and National Unity, on Thursday met officials from the Blantyre District to discuss the need for the criminalization of discrimination in Malawi, with focus on racism, regionalism and tribalism.

Lwitiko Rodney Munkhondia, an Economist in the ministry, said it was important to hold such a meeting to find possible solutions to the widespread discrimination in the country.

“We want to ensure that we develop an inclusive legal instrument that will eliminate discrimination and ensure no one is left behind,” he said.

Among the participants was Apostle Lindiwe Matanya, a member of Women for Fair Development (WOFAD), who noted that discrimination has become too common in Malawi.

“We discriminate against each other based on language; just hearing someone speak, we already judge them and this makes us reluctant to offer any assistance,” she said.

Apostle Matanya further observed that political and religious leaders are often responsible for promoting divisions, giving an example of leaders appointing individuals into positions based on cultural ties rather than merit.

“If we continue like this, our children will struggle to get jobs and there will be no development in the country. Development will remain concentrated within one tribe and when people are employed based on connections, the quality of work suffers. This will hinder the realization of Vision 2063,” she said.

Council Chairperson for Blantyre, Elsen Dumuka said discrimination in Malawi is not a new issue having been present since the 1980s.

“I encourage everyone to participate in ending this practice and I urge the Ministry to take this issue seriously because capable and experienced individuals are being denied opportunities due to racism, tribalism and regionalism,” said Dumuka.

The meeting which brought together stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders highlighted the need for urgent action to address discrimination in order to promote fairness and development across all sectors in Malawi.

By Wellington Sibale

Neno, October 25, Mana: Government has announced a shift from manual cash transfers to electronic payments in Neno District for all the social protection programmes, aligning with its agenda to digitize all government payments.

Speaking during a District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting on Thursday, Shock Sensitive Specialist at the National Local Governance Finance Committee (NLGFC), Muda Mkutumula said electronic payments have more benefits than manual.

Mkutumula said payment for cash-based project benefits will now be disbursed electronically and advantages of E-payment, include enhanced safety, lower transaction costs and faster payment processing.

“This aims to prepare the country's economy for the adoption of digital financial services,” Mkutumula said.

Currently, the government relies on a manual payment system to deliver funds to beneficiaries of the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) and the Climate Smart Public Works Programme (CSPWP).

However, Mkutumula noted that this method has proved inefficient requiring district staff to spend up to two weeks distributing cash and using nearly all available vehicles and personnel, adding that the manual system is also vulnerable to security risks such as theft and is difficult to adapt during times of crisis.

“To address these challenges and as part of the commitment to digitize payments, the government is promoting electronic payments (E-payments) for cash disbursement to beneficiaries,” Mkutumula said, adding that this will reduce travel and waiting times making payments faster and safer.

Mkutumula explained that E-payments mitigate risks related to handling large sums of cash including transportation and security expenses and also support financial inclusion, offering beneficiaries access to financial services and contributing to the strengthening of the financial sector.

Wealthnet Finance Plc has been selected as the service provider for Neno District following an open and competitive bidding process. The company will use its KakuPay Smart Money platform to disburse payments.

A representative from Wealthnet, Dingiswayo Zulu assured beneficiaries of smooth service delivery.

“For those without phones, we will offer an affordable instalment plan for purchasing a phone enabling them to receive government payments,” Zulu said.

He however urged beneficiaries to safeguard their Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) to avoid falling victim to scammers and fraudsters.

According to Zulu, participants will receive their funds through mobile wallets after an SMS notification.

He said the participant will withdraw cash from a Payment Service Provider (PSP) agent, with the government covering transaction fees for an agreed period with the (PSPs).

The government has already implemented E-payment systems in 21 districts. In Neno, however, the process will begin once Wealthnet Finance and the Neno District Council complete sensitization and training sessions for beneficiaries.

By Mary Makhiringa

Balaka, October 25, Mana: Commissioner for the Malawi Electoral Commission, Francis Kasaira on Thursday commended Balaka District Council, for what he described as servant dedication for the overwhelming registration that the district is recording.

Kasaira made the remarks at Zammimba Primary School in the district after conducting a two-day tour to registration centres.

"I am responsible for three districts of Balaka, Machinga and Neno, but I must commend Balaka District Election Supervisory Committee (DEST) for the tremendous figures that I have seen in the centres.

“This is day three of the first phase of the registration exercise but many of the centres have already passed the 500 mark which is not the case in Machinga and Neno,” he said.

Kasaira, therefore, called for more effort as the exercise progresses especially on civic education so that no one is left behind.

District Commissioner for Balaka, Tamanya Harawa hailed the commission for the supervisory visit, saying it has further encouraged DEST members to engage an extra gear.

“We normally work in collaboration, we always converge when challenged so that we map the way forward,” he said.

Balaka is among the districts in phase one of the General Elections registration.

By Milcah Mathias

Blantyre, October 24, Mana: Youth Activists Initiative Organization (YAIO), a Blantyre based youth group says it remains vigilant in raising awareness among the youths on issues to do with Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and HIV and Aids through Tikambirane Clubs at Chirimba and Lunzu in Blantyre.

YAIO Programmes Manager, Cecilia Kacholola, said that its project on SRHR brings open discussions on HIV ad Aids prevention to help the youth get right information for informed decisions.

With funding from Miserecor in Germany, the SRHR project facilitated establishment of 15 new Tikambirane Clubs in schools in Chirimba and South Lunzu education zones.

“So far, the youth are making right and informed decisions on their own. They are now able to tell whenever they are abused and are able to report cases to relevant authorities,  

“We established Kameza Youth Club and this was done after meeting with young people and adult forums to address emerging social issues such as drug and substance abuse among the youths,” said Kacholola.

Speaking in an interview with the Malawi News agency (Mana), a social commentator, Julius Mithi, said organizations should target both primary and secondary school learners on issues to do with SRHR and HIV and Aids, observing that parents often fail to open up to their children on HIV and AIDS, and Sexual and Reproductive Health issues due to social-cultural barriers.

“When children are given right information about Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV and Aids at a tender age, they understand these issues better and this help to reduces confrontations between children and parents,” Mithi said, adding that children-parents confrontation mostly leads to increased cases of suicide among the young people.  

Blantyre Urban District Youth Officer, Martha Chelewani said youths make largest and fastest growing population in Malawi such that her office put interventions in place to empower the youths through economic activities as a way of dealing with HIV and AIDS as well as sexual reproductive health issues.

“The youth office and partners also facilitate business management skills to promote business and saving culture. This helps the youths to engage themselves in productive issues other than indulging themselves in immoral behaviours that can drive them to contract sexually transmitted infections such as and HIV,” she said.

Chilewani added that providing youths with adequate and right information about HIV and Aids, and SRHR was part of youth centered approach to ensure productive and responsible beings that can withstand peer pressure,

YAIO started implementing the SRHR project in Chilomoni Education Zone area in 2020 and has expanded to other schools in Chirimba and South Lunzu Education zones.

YAIO is working with other youth organizations including Active Youth Association, Sowing Seeds in the Morning (SOSMORE), Youth Relief Agency, Machinjiri Youth Organization, New Dawn and Youth Coordinating Agency to offer various youth programmes in SRHR and HIV and Aids response.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, October 25, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza on Thursday urged Telekom Networks Malawi (TNM) to protect beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) from fraud after transitioning to Electronic payment.

The programme in Salima district has now shifted to a mobile-based payment arrangement using TNM Mpamba.

Sendeza made the call in Salima, in the area of Senior Chief Makanjira, when she inspected the registration of beneficiaries to the TNM’s Know Your Customer Exercise, in preparation for e-payment in the district.

She said there should be massive awareness so that beneficiaries should know how they can quickly identify and know different forms of fraudulent acts.

"The Social Cash Transfer Programme aims at alleviating poverty, therefore if beneficiaries would be duped of the money they receive that means we are not solving any problem in terms of poverty alleviation," she said.

Sendeza said beneficiaries should also have access to affordable phones so that when they start receiving money through phones they can be able to withdraw without challenges.

The Minister also urged beneficiaries to use the money they receive under the programme carefully to improve their livelihoods.

"Beneficiaries should not misuse money they receive, because we want to see transformation of livelihoods. We want to see people buying goats, building houses, sending children to school and achieving food security in their households," she said.

On his part, TNM's Senior Commercial Manager for the Central Region Lengster Nyanjagha assured the Minister that they are intensifying awareness against fraud among all beneficiaries of Social Cash Transfer, especially teaching them never to share their PIN code with anyone.

"We tell our customers never to share their pin code as this exposes them to fraud, and also they should never swap their numbers under any circumstances, because doing so puts them at high risk of being duped," he said.

A beneficiary of the SCTP from Senior Chief Makanjira Napungeya Davison said she hopes that E-payment would ease challenges of queuing on long lines waiting to receive cash under the programme.

"We would walk long distances just to receive our money, and receiving was not instant we would stay on long lines for so many hours, this was frustrating, therefore receiving money instantly in our phones will be a game changer for us," she said.

In Salima District, 12,340 households are benefiting from the Social Cash Transfer Programme.

By Maston Kaiya

Ntcheu, October 24, Mana: Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda, has advised Chiefs in the country to exercise love and justice when distributing relief items to their subordinates.

Banda said this in Ntcheu on Tuesday during the elevation ceremony of Traditional Authorities (TAs) Ganya and Champiti to Senior Chiefs.

He said it is worrisome to see that government services such as the Agriculture Input Programme (AIP) and Social Cash Transfer (Mtukula pa Khomo) are only benefiting a small group of people due to nepotistic leadership.

"As chiefs, let us distribute relief items and any other donations accordingly to the beneficiaries and not be greedy," said Banda.

For his part, Inkosi Ya Makhosi Gomani V advised the elevated chiefs not to be taken up with their new role and oppress others, but rather to continue showing love and working together with their subordinates.

"You have been elevated to the position of Senior Chief due to your good behaviour and commitment to your work. I urge you to continue being good and exemplary and more importantly love your people," said Gomani.

On 10th April 2024, the State President Dr Lazarus Chakwera elevated Traditional Authorities Ganya, Champiti, Njolomole and Masasa of Ntcheu district to Senior Chiefs.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, October 24, Mana: Chitipa District Council says it is geared for the 2^nd edition of the K20 million Misuku Motorhino Eco Rally 2024 competition, which will be held on Saturday in Misuku Hills in Chitipa District.

The theme of this year is ‘Conserving natural forests in order to create worth through tourism in hard to reach areas.’

District Commissioner for Chitipa, MacMillan Magomero said that the Misuku Motorhino Eco Rally 2024 has gained international recognition and it has even acquired sponsorship from Motorhino Motorcycles which is specialised in electric vehicles like; motorbike and motorboats.

Magomero said this during the District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting on Wednesday in Chitipa.

“We will have the Misuku Motorhino Eco Rally 2024 competition this coming Saturday. And Guest of honour will be Minister of Local Government, Culture and National Unity, Richard Chimwendo Banda.

“Also in attendance will be Minister of Tourism, Verah Kamtukule, and Minister of Youths and Sports Uchizi Mkandawire. This is an important competition as it is in our district reform areas,” Magomero said.

He then asked DEC members and all people to participate as it is the district council's baby.

Country Director for Motorhino Electric Motorcycles, Barros Atupele Mweso, said that a budget was presented and funds were allocated saying that the team is working tirelessly to ensure that all is set by Friday.

“We are expecting fireworks as we will also be unveiling our new Motorcycle, heavy duty model called Rhino X2,” Mweso said.

The K20 million Misuku Motorhino Eco Rally 2024 will be a combined electric and fuel powered motorbike race.