MANAonline
212 households affected by heavy rains in Nkhata Bay
By Aubrey Ghambi
Nkhata Bay, January 3, Mana: About 212 houses in Nkhata Bay district have been damaged following heavy rains accompanied by strong winds in the district on Wednesday.
Nkhata Bay District Council Spokesperson Chisomo Kambandanga confirmed the development in an interview on Thursday.
He said the rains covered a wide range of areas; however, the affected houses are in the areas of Traditional Authorities Fukamalaza, Mkondowe, Mndola, Khoza, and Senior Chief Timbiri.
"In the last two days of 2024 up to the day we were celebrating the New Year; most areas received heavy rains, which was accompanied by strong winds causing damage to several houses.
"This has left most people homeless as walls of their houses were damaged, and roofs blown off, among others. Through an assessment and verification exercise the council conducted, I can confirm that 212 households have been affected,” Kambandanga said.
According to Kambandanga, the rains also affected some school blocks where roofs have been blown off in the mentioned areas.
"A report has been sent to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) as the affected families require numerous essential items," he added.
Councilor for Kandoli Ward, Osman Charge Phiri said that the affected households need urgent assistance of food, basic needs like clothes, and support to reconstruct their damaged houses for them to resume normal life.
One of the affected household members, Mary Manda, from the area of Senior Chief Timbiri said the disaster has heavily impacted her household.
"This has greatly affected us, as instead of focusing on farming, our attention will be diverted to rebuilding our home, which may lead to hunger in the next season,” she said
Government for equal distribution of loans
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, January 3, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, has stated that President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera's administration is committed to ensure that National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) fertilizer loan programme is reaching the intended beneficiaries across the country.
Kunkuyu made these remarks during the launch of the NEEF loan fertilizer distribution at Lobi Trading Centre in the area of Senior Chief Kachere in Dedza District.
He emphasized that President Chakwera will ensure that farmers receive what they are promised so they can fully benefit from the initiative.
The minister noted that the programme will stimulate growth in the agriculture sector, which is likely to improve the country’s foreign exchange reserves when agricultural commodities are sold on the international market.
"You are the ones feeding the country, and you need to be fully empowered. We want to see you driving cars buying from the profits that you accumulate from this initiative," Kunkuyu said.
He commended local chiefs for encouraging their communities to avoid reliance on free handouts and to embrace hard work, which is essential for enhancing agricultural growth in the area.
NEEF Board Chairperson Jefta Mtemwa indicated that the programme was launched in 2024 with an initial budget of K25 billion, benefiting 11,500 farmers.
He said government has allocated K150 billion, targeting 400,000 farmers in 2025.
Mtemwa said this aligns with the President's vision to revitalize and transform agriculture, aiming to make Malawi a food-secure nation.
Mtemwa assured the beneficiaries that NEEF is working diligently to assist all applicants for loans, especially as the country is currently experiencing good rainfall.
Member of Parliament for Dedza South West Constituency, Clement Mlombwa, described the development as a testament to the government’s promises and commitment to promote self-reliance among the citizens.
Mlombwa expressed optimism that the programme would help to eradicate hunger in Dedza, as most farmers depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.
He highlighted the importance of Lobi as a key agricultural production area and stressed the need for people in the district to benefit from the NEEF programme.
Additionally, Member of Parliament for Dedza Dzalanyama, Philipo Chinkhondo, praised NEEF for its initiative, stating that it would revitalize agriculture in his constituency.
He emphasized that the programme is not politically affiliated and that NEEF is distributing fertilizer regardless of political affiliations, unlike previous governments.
Chinkhondo urged communities benefiting from the initiative not to sell the fertilizer and encouraged chiefs and councilors to actively participate in implementing the programme to help combat hunger challenges.
In his remarks, Group Village Headman Lobi expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating it will significantly benefit farmers in the area.
He urged farmers to resist the temptation of engaging with vendors to maximize their production.
Nicolas Pemba, a beneficiary representing Uli Kuti Club, also commended the government for the positive progress of the programme.
He urged fellow beneficiaries to repay their loans on time to sustain the initiative and continue benefiting others in the future.
Pemba stressed the importance of using the fertilizer as intended to secure food for all.
VP condemns corruption in the distribution of maize
By Milcah Mathias
Blantyre, January 3, Mana: Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi has condemned the unfair distribution of maize, noting that it frustrates the purpose the maize distribution exercise is meant to achieve.
Addressing Soche West Ward beneficiaries at Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre on Wednesday, Usi emphasized that there are people who are conniving with those in authority to receive maize meant for underprivileged households.
"It is a worrisome development that people who are indeed poor are coming here, waiting tirelessly but are not receiving the maize," said Usi.
"People who are not intended for the maize distribution and are well-to-do are receiving the maize because they are well known to some people in authority," added Usi.
The Vice President added that there should not be politicization of maize distribution as the maize is intended for poor Malawians, not people affiliated with any political party.
"The relief maize is not for any political party. It is for all hungry Malawians so there should not be segregation or political agendas towards the exercise. Whether they are UTM, DPP, MCP, AFORD supporters they all need to receive maize as they are all poor Malawians," Usi stated.
One of the beneficiaries, Bright Levers said the bag of maize has come in time of need as he was struggling to feed his family.
"We have been hungry for a week now as we did not have any other means of survival. So, this bag of maize is my hope to feed a family for weeks," he said.
Another beneficiary, Alinafe Chikoti described the bag of maize as a timely support as he is waiting to harvest maize from her farm in the following months.
Chikoti, however, advised those who sell maize to vendors to refrain from doing that saying this has potential to put their families at risk of hunger.
Meanwhile, 2 400 beneficiary families from Soche West Ward have each received a bag of maize worth 50 Kilogrammes.
Government-to-Government fuel deal to ease fuel shortages- Matola
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, January 3, Mana: Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola, has said fuel scarcity in Malawi is expected to improve with the arrival of a vessel carrying 51 million litres of petroleum products from Tanga in Tanzania.
Speaking after inspecting the vessel, the Minister said the shipment would significantly help reduce the fuel crisis.
According to Matola, all processes have been finalized, and the products' transfer will begin on Saturday.
He anticipated that fuel would arrive in Malawi on Thursday next week.
Matola commended President Dr Lazarus Chakwera's decision to shift procurement from an open tender to a government-to-government arrangement, which enabled the purchase of the 51 million litres.
"The vessel is already in the process of discharging the product,” said Matola.
National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Meklas Reuben, stated that they will ensure smooth operations as the appointed agent for managing the government-to-government arrangement.
"This development offers hope to Malawians who have been struggling with fuel shortages that have disrupted transportation, commerce, and daily life," Reuben stated.
Kasungu’s K839 million-hospital project completed
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, January 2, Mana: Construction of the K839 million paying clinic at Kasungu District Hospital has completed, raising hope for improved healthcare service delivery in the district.
The clinic which has been constructed as part of an income generation drive for Kasungu District Council, has been funded through Performance Based Grant (PBG) under the World Bank supported Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) Project.
Director of Health Services for Kasungu, Emmanuel Golombe said in an interview on Thursday that with the construction works completed, the council will be looking for funds to purchase furniture and equipment so that the facility becomes operational.
“We expect the facility to become operational mid this year. What is remaining is the purchasing of equipment and furniture which would cost us around K300 million,” Golombe said.
He said the project is a response to a growing demand for quality healthcare paying services in the district.
“There is a section of the community which would be rushing to work and not willing to spend long hours on the queue at the hospital. They would rather go to a paying facility, which is less congested.
“Some need specialized services which may not be available. In that case, they go to Lilongwe. So our mission is to also reach such people with services suiting their requirements,” he said.
Golombe added that the project will also help generate revenue for the operations of the entire district hospital, supplementing funds for purchasing drugs and paying utility bills.
The director of Finance at Kasungu District Council, Solomon Nkundika, said the council is exploring ways to generate more local revenue so that it can properly serve the people.
“The paying clinic is one of those efforts. We are also trying to improve our collections in the markets to have enough funds to give the people quality services,” he said.
Senior Planning Officer for National Local Government Finance Committee, Charity Kaunda expressed satisfaction with the quality of the project, emphasizing that councils have a responsibility to deliver quality services.
“We desire to see that the council is utilizing the resources that they get under PBG to address the community service gaps, implementing projects that can stand the test of time and be implemented to the desired quality by adhering to specifications and completed within the given timelines,” Kaunda said.
Magie Chawinga, a resident of Mayadi Township expressed excitement about the project saying for a long time, there has been a gap of such services in the district.
MP says Admarc efficiency can improve farmers profits
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, January 1, Mana: Member of Parliament (MP) for Kasungu North, Mike Bango, says beneficiaries of the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) Farm Input Loan Programme could make more profits if they sell their produce at Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc).
Bango believes that farmers will get good prices at Admarc and prevent wasting away their produce at low prices offered by vendors and therefore, asked government to consider supporting the state grain buyer so that it starts buying produce early enough.
He said this on Tuesday when Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu, launched the disbursement of fertilizer under the 2024/25 NEEF Farm Input Loan Programme at Kaluluma in Kasungu District.
“While I appreciate the role that vendors play in the economy, they offer low prices to farmers. This is why I plead with government to prepare Admarc so that it should be the entity buying produce from these beneficiaries.
“If this happens, we are assured of our farmers making a good profit to service the loans with ease, while at the same time the government will have enough stock of maize which can be properly sold to better markets outside the country and get forex,” Bango said.
The Malawi Congress Party legislature asked chiefs to be vigilant and ensure that people should not sell the inputs accessed under the programme.
“This is a good initiative that will help us here in the rural areas to realize the vision that we must prosper together hence we must use the inputs for the intended purpose,” he said.
In his remarks, Kunkuyu said the programme is part of the government’s strategies to help in the generation of forex and also make the country food sufficient.
“It is in the history of this country that we used to produce enough and feed other countries as well. The reason is that people had access to farm inputs.
“President Lazarus Chakwera says we should go back to that time, give people inputs and harvest more produce. Our farms are the same, we can do it,” he said.
He said government has put in place various structural mechanisms to revitalize the agriculture sector so that there is food security as well as surplus produce for export.
One of the beneficiaries Daniel Lubanga and Senior Chief Kaluluma lauded government for the initiative and called for its sustainability, describing the programme as being both productive and self-sustaining.
Government plans to spend K150 billion for the programme targeting 400 000 farmers across the country after registering successes in the last year’s K27 billion investment which benefitted 11 500 farming entities.
According to NEEF Boar Chairperson Jephta Mtema, the fund has so far disbursed over K160 billion in other types of loans since 2021, with a national loan repayment average of 85 percent.
Two arrested for house breaking, theft in Mzuzu
By Nolious Gondwe
Mzuzu, January 1, Mana: Police in Mzuzu have arrested two men, identified as Sinda Chirwa, 19 and Mphatso Vumu, 24 for allegedly being linked to a series of house breaking and theft cases within the city.
Public relations officer for Mzuzu Police Station, Cecilia Mfune, said in an interview on Wednesday that the suspects were arrested over the festive season at Luwinga and Chibavi Townships.
She said police detectives conducted a special intelligence operation, which led to the arrests.
“Following their arrests, police have recovered various stolen items such as an AG Lenovo Monitor, 42 inch Ecco Plasma, 32 inch Samsung Plasma screen, an HP CPU, two Xbox consoles, one HP Laptop, one Huwel Cellphone, three game control pads and three remote controllers,” Mfune said.
She said the suspects have been charged with house breaking and theft and will appear before court soon to answer their charges.
"As we approach the final days of festive season, we urge the general public to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions in ensuring their safety. We want to assure the public of our commitment to provide a safe and secure environment for all," Mfune said.
Chirwa hails from Mlale village, Traditional Authority Timbiri in Nkhatabay District while Vumu is from Ekwendeni village, Traditional Authority Mtwalo in Mzimba District.
NEEF loan Machinga farmers MK54 million-worth fertilizer
By Charlie Ligomeka
Machinga, December 31, Mana: In an effort to combat hunger and boost agricultural productivity in Machinga, the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) Limited has distributed 514 bags of fertilizer worth MK54 million as a loan to 17 farmer groups and 19 individual farmers.
According to Alinanuswe Manda, NEEF supervisor for the Ntaja Branch, the initiative is particularly significant, given the region's struggle with poor soil fertility due to heavy rains and El Nino, which have washed away essential nutrients from the soil.
"Crop nutrition was a significant barrier earlier, but with this initiative, we're confident that farmers will have bumper harvest. This, in turn, will have a positive impact on food security, not only for the farmers' households but also for the broader community," Manda said.
An individual beneficiary, Janet Mambo from Kondoni Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Nsanama, who received 20 bags of Urea fertilizer and 20 bags of NPK, said the fertilizer loan program is a game-changer for them as farmers.
"This fertilizer will boost our harvests and ensure food security for my household," she said.
She also emphasized the importance of crop insurance, given the unpredictable nature of farming success.
"As a farmer, I know how devastating it can be to lose your crops due to unforeseen circumstances. The crop insurance offered by NEEF provides us with a sense of security and reassurance that we'll be protected in case of any adverse events," said Mambo.
Maick Saidi, chairperson of the Mjigo Suwedi Youth group, a farmer group from TA Nyambi, also hailed the initiative as his group has received 15 bags of Urea and 15 bags of NPK.
"This is a higher opportunity, and we have to utilize it by working hard, taking care of our farms and using best farming methods to make higher yields," he said.
Another beneficiary, Loveness Lodrick from TA Ntumbwinda, who received her share of fertilizer from a group of five people, echoed Mambo's sentiments, thanking NEEF for the loan program.
"We're thrilled to receive this fertilizer, which we couldn't have afforded otherwise. We will make sure to utilize this opportunity to produce a greater yield, which will help us pay back the loan and ensure food security for our households. We're confident that this initiative will have a positive impact on our lives and the lives of our families,” Lodrick said.
In addition to the fertilizer loan program, NEEF is also offering crop insurance to farmers through their partners Cooperatives Insurance Company (CIC) which provides farmers with a vital safety net against unpredictable weather conditions, such as droughts and cyclones.
Kasungu Municipality in K900m road project
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, December 30, Mana: Kasungu Municipal Council has invested MK924 million to upgrade town roads and fix associated furniture such as drainage system improvements and culverts to ease mobility challenges.
Director of Public Works for the council, Moses Zimba, said in an interview on Monday that the project, which is nearing completion, will benefit all the nine wards in the municipality designated to become a secondary city.
“We are satisfied with the quality of the works done so far. This is a big project that will have a huge impact on the face of the municipality as far as town roads are concerned.
“It is on record that some roads become impassable during the rainy season. They are actually cut off posing mobility challenges. These challenges will no longer be there,” Zimba said.
He expressed hope that the improved road network will facilitate and boost trade activities within the municipality as well as reduce mobility nightmares for residents.
The scope of works includes road grading to gravel standards, drainage improvement, concrete works and installing culverts.
Joseph Banda, a taxi driver, said driving has always been a nightmare in the municipality especially during rainy seasons when most roads become muddy and impassable.
“We are excited with this project because the conduct of our business has improved. We don’t spend a lot of time ferrying a customer from one point to the other, as was the case previously.
“As times goes, we would wish to have all the roads upgraded to bitumen standards because the population of this town is growing meaning there are many vehicles,” Banda said.
The project, which is being funded through the City Roads Fund, started in August and is expected to complete early January.
Kasungu District has close to a million people and most of them are engaged in agriculture related businesses, which require good road infrastructure.
Admarc donates to Kasungu District Hospital
By Wanagwa Tembo
Kasungu, December 30, Mana: Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) on Monday donated rice to Kasungu District Hospital to supplement the supplies that are used to feed patients.
The health facility feeds about 300 patients per day and requires at least 170 kilogrammes of flour a day to provide three meals.
Making the donation amounting to 100 kilogrammes, Admarc's Division Manager for Kasungu, Carol Khunga said health facilities face a lot of challenges which can be mitigated if institutions come in to assist.
"This donation is part of our corporate social responsibility and we thought it wise to come to Kasungu and celebrate the end of the year festivities with the patients.
"The donations are being done in all our 11 divisions where at the end of everything, we are expected to give out 2,200 kilogrammes worth MK5.5 million," Khunga said.
Matron for Kasungu District Hospital, Doris Mwafulirwa Wilikani lauded Admarc for the donation describing it as a huge contribution towards efforts to feeding patients according to standards.
"We have a lot of challenges. We need food for patients; we need mobility equipment like trolleys and wheel chairs and many other needs.
"We would welcome all kind of assistance to the facility. Actually we would be happy to advice on the items that are mostly needed for well-wishers to help," Wilikani said.
Kasungu District Hospital serves a population of about a million people.
