MANAonline
DoDMA distributes relief items in Chikwawa
By Willy Kadewere
Chikwawa, April 16, Mana: In a bid to reduce the effects of recent floods that have heavily affected people of Ngabu in Chikwawa, government through the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has distributed food and relief items to households affected by floods in the district.
The floods follow heavy downpour on Thursday last week, which claimed the lives of three people, washed away houses, crops, livestock, and also damaged other materials at Ngabu Health Facility.
In her remarks after the distribution, member of parliament for the affected area who is also Minister of Water and Sanitation, Abida Mia, commended the quick intervention by DoDMA which distributed a 50 kilogrammes bag of maize, beans, plastic sheets, and family tents.
"We thank the government of Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for the quick support. Barely two days after the disaster hit our area, government through DoDMA has supplied us with food relief items and shelter materials. Affected families whose houses have been completely washed away will have an opportunity to receive family tents and plastic sheets," Said Mia.
Mia appealed to other well-wishers and partners to support the devastated families as they lack a lot and have nothing to depend on since even their farms have been completely damaged.
Member of Parliament for Chikwawa South, Illyas Abdul Karim whose area has also been affected by the floods, expressed gratitude for the timely support from the government, but appealed for more aid considering that not only houses were affected.
He appealed to stakeholders for a coordinated assistance to the affected families and reminded leaders in the camps to desist from corrupt practices.
According to Chikwawa District Commissioner, Nardin Kamba, the floods have affected over 1600 households and government through DoDMA has distributed over 1600 bags of maize, 45 bags of beans, 30 family tents, and 20 rolls of plastic.
Kamba encouraged those that can manage to move away from camps to do so and asked the affected families to send their children to school since education is the only key that can transform people’s lives.
Currently the district has elected six camps where the affected people are sheltering, namely Ngabu sports club, Nkhwangwa, Mwanamakoko, Mphamba, Mchenga, and Msomo.
Mwansambo communities in Nkhotakota hope for improved health service
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, April 15, Mana: Communities around the Mwansambo area say there is an expectation that the provision of maternal and antenatal health services will improve at the Mwansambo health clinic in Nkhotakota district with the completion of a new maternity wing at the Clinic.
In an interview with MANA, Mwafeyi Chimbatata of Chipafu village in the area of Senior Chief Mwansambo said in the past, pregnant women were facing challenges during delivery time as they occupied small rooms and some of them were referred to Nkhotakota district hospital, more than 70 kilometers away from the clinic.
Chimbatata said the completion of the maternity wing brings hope for improved medical attention at the clinic and will reduce complications that were earlier being faced.
“Now we are hopeful that the completion of this wing will help the communities who need maternal services be treated and supervised accordingly, as the room is adequate enough for all the necessary services,” added Chimbatata.
One of the expectant mothers at the clinic Mafunasi Lazalo, attributed the unavailability of good services to lack of good and modern health facilities and the bad state of the road making referrals difficult.
“The room which is used as a maternity wing is close to the Out-patient Department (OPD) which compromises women’s privacy when giving birth as other people outside the room hear or see what the women go through during labour, I have to commend officials for ensuring that the new modern wing be located far from OPD,” said Lazalo.
Meanwhile, Nkhotakota district council director of Finance Khumbo Masankhula said they are waiting for 2024/2025 funding for the procurement of equipment at the facility and other project as the budgeted amount was destabilized by Kwacha’s devaluation.
“We have submitted a report to the ministry of local government on the encounters that have contributed to the failure to purchase equipment as the amount which was allocated did not meet the requirements as a result of the 44 percent kwacha devaluation however, we are sure that by the end of April, the funding will be disbursed and the facility will become operational early May,” said Masankhula.
Nkhotakota District Council constructed a Mk112, 170, 755.22 maternity wing at Mwansambo Health Centre from performance-based grants received under the World Bank Project-Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) project, which the Ministry of Local Government disbursed to 25 well-performing local councils.
Drug and substance abuse among the youths
By Memory Khutuliwa
Blantyre, April 15, Mana; Blantyre District Youth Officer, Peter Mizedya has said limited access to youth friendly services and limited capacity among health workers to handle youth related issues push youths into drug and substance abuse.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency, Mizedya said the youth clubs are important tools to deal with immoral behaviors among youth though some youth clubs fail to satisfy needs of the youths.
He also observed that lack of employability skills, lack of school bursaries and no access to loans among school leavers are some of contributing factors.
The District Youth Officer therefore advocated for provision of effective youth friendly health services to allow the youth to have skills to resist peer pressure on issues of drug and substance abuse.
“We are providing trainings to peer educators to help address challenges young people are facing. We advocate for provision of sexual reproductive health and youth friendly health services to the youth in the remotest areas of Blantyre,” he said.
Midzedya added that youth clubs are led by peer educator that are tasked to provide youths with life skills that provide adequate knowledge on how they should resist unprotected sex and drug and substance abuse
“The youth are also given firsthand information on how they can prevent unprotected sex and other risk behaviors. Peer educators also provide referrals to other relevant stakeholders if there is a need,” the district youth officer added.
Blantyre rural has 307 registered youth clubs while Blantyre urban has 87 registered clubs that engage youths in various youth programmes ranging from technical vocational skills to sexual reproductive health rights
One of the community leaders at Mbayani Township in Blantyre, Mike Gama said many young people engage in sexual activities, drug and substance abuse among others at early age due to idleness, peer pressure and lack of parental care.
“Youths in my area are engaged in immoral behavior as some of them drop out of school at primary level. We encourage youths to join clubs and apart from this, we also try to create other groups in our community to keep them occupied,” he said.
The local leader added that community leaders work hand in hand with Kabula and Chapima police units to help in addressing issues of drugs and substance abuse after recording five deaths of young people due to drug abuse,” Gama added.
He therefore called on government to provide the youth with technical and vocational skills and loans to allow the youths to engage in small scale businesses.
Take NRB outreach registration exercise seriously-DC
By Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, April 15, Mana: Lilongwe District Commissioner Dr. Lawford Palani has called on people in Lilongwe to go in large numbers to register in order for them to have National Identity Cards in readiness for the forth coming tripartite elections.
Palani made the call on Monday in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) as National Registration Bureau (NRB) is starting mass outreach registration exercise of IDs in the district from the 15th of April to 29th April, 2024.
“This is a rare opportunity that government has given us. As you may be aware, national IDs these days are very important. They are used anywhere such as in the banks, and it enables one to make different transactions using the ID, so it’s an important document,” he said.
Palani therefore called on traditional and church leaders, Members of Parliament and councilors to take a leading role in informing the people in their areas about this important exercise.
NRB Principal Registration Officer for Lilongwe district Strachan Chisenga said the exercise will target those who have attained the age of 16 and above and even those whose ID cards were lost or stolen will be assisted.
However, Chisenga warned people to stop cheating on age and names saying once such information has been documented it’s for life.
“If you cheat us like you are old when you are young, you should know that such information will have an impact on you in the near future. Even the name should be the correct one, because the name you register on the ID, will be there for life,” he said.
In a separate interview, Monalisa Mbewe from Traditional Authority Chadza in Lilongwe, thanked government for the initiative saying many people more especially those who attained the age of 16 do not have national IDs.
“We are happy to have this opportunity. Some of us registered for an ID two years ago but until today we have not received our national ID. I hope with this exercise we will have our ID’s as soon as possible,” she said.
NRB outreach registration exercise in Lilongwe will run in two phases: in Lilongwe rural and Lilongwe City. Lilongwe rural alone will have 133 centres, and the people are expected to have their IDs within 30 days.
Chitipa United FC thrashes Karonga United FC
By George Mponda
Karonga, April 15, Mana: Ramadan Ntafu produced the first hattrick of the 2024/25 TNM superleague season as Chitipa United Football Club (FC) thrashed Karonga United FC 4-1 at Karonga Stadium on Sunday.
From the first whistle, Chitipa dominated possesion and Ntafu opened the flood gates at eight minutes as he coolly slotted the ball home after being fed a nice pass by Ken Mulenga.
Chitipa almost doubled their lead minutes later as Ken Mlenga curled a beautiful freekick which missed the goal post by inches.
At 23 minutes, Ntafu scored his brace after receiving an assist from Stimela Muyira who kept tormenting the Karonga defence with his dribbling skills.
This made Headcoach for Karonga United, Trevor Kajawa to make three changes; introducing Blessings Mwalilino, Nanison Mbewe and Saulos Moyo, having subbed Geoffrey Kadzitche, Alfred Chizinga and Obie Raphael.
Midfielder Victor Chirambo missed Karonga United's best chance in the dying minutes of the first half as he blasted the ball over the cross bar while facing an empty goal and the first half ended 2-0.
In the second half, Ntafu completed his hattrick at 52 minutes and two minutes later, Muyira danced his way through Karonga United defence to score the fourth goal to the bewilderment of travelling Chitipa fans who were now the loudest in the stadium.
Blessings Mwalilino who was voted man of the match in Karonga United's last match scored a consolation goal at 73 minutes and the game ended 4-1 in favour of Chitipa.
In a post match interview, Karonga United FC Headcoach Kajawa said this was a humiliating defeat at their own backyard.
"The boys had created many chances and we could have scored almost six goals but they failed and our opponents made use of their chances that is why they managed to punish us with four goals," Kajawa said.
Head Coach for Chitipa United FC, Elvis Kafoteka hailed his boys for putting a wonderful perfomance saying they will be getting better with each game.
The win has put Chitipa United on position six with three points and they will be facing Bullets in their next assignment at home.
Silver Strikers are currently league leaders with six points from two games.
Government mourns late Senior Chief Kapoloma
By Martin Chiwanda
Machinga, April 15, Mana: Government has described the death of Senior Chief Kapoloma of Machinga as a big loss to the nation.
Minister of Information, Moses Kunkuyu, who represented President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera at the funeral of Senior Chief Sunday at Nsili headquarters, said the President has viewed the death the Senior Chief as a loss as he was a dedicated leader who was always committed to serving the government.
He said during the late Senior Chief Kapoloma’s time, the area registered a number of development and at the same time there was no abuse of his office as was the case with other traditional leaders.
“The President who has sent me to represent him is saddened that the country has lost a dedicated leader who was committed to serving the government and his people diligently.
“Senior Chief Kapoloma has never had issues with his subject through different abuses. He has been always on doing right thing to his subordinates as well as to this government. His death is a great blow to the area, the district as well as nation as a whole,” Kunkuyu added.
Speaking on behalf of the bereaved family, Paramount Chief Kawinga said the departed chief left a gap which would not be easy to fill.
He added that the late Senior Chief worked tirelessly to ensure peace and unity in his area.
“We have lost a great man in the name of Senior Chief Kapoloma. He really loved his duties as a leader. He never abused his powers. I have never received any complaints from his subjects. This shows that he was a great leader,” Paramount Chief Kawinga pointed out.
Senior Chief Kapoloma of Machinga died in the late hours of Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Queens Central Hospital in Blantyre where he was receiving medical attention.
Senior Chief Kapoloma whose real name is Mabvuto Ahmadu was installed as Traditional Authority (TA) on December 6, 2014 and was elevated to Senior Chief in 2020.
He was born in 1952 and is survived by two wives, 25 children and 56 grandchildren.
He was laid to rest on Sunday April 14, 2024 at Nsili headquarters at Kapoloma.
Women Dawa group donates to Dedza Police
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, April 15, Mana: As part of Eid celebration, Dedza Women Dawa Group on Saturday donated assorted items to suspects at Dedza Police Station.
The items included; cooking oil, buckets, sugar, soap, packs of soya pieces, maize flour just to mention a few.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Vice Chair Lady for Dedza Women Dawa Group, Lahema Lifa said the donation was part of Eid celebration from Muslim women to brothers and sisters in Police cells.
"Every woman has a motherly heart and she cannot leave her child to die due to hunger despite committing a crime. This is the reason we decided to cherish our sons and daughters in police cells as part of this year's Eid celebration,” she said.
Lifa encouraged her fellow women to always develop a hard working spirit and not entirely depend on men adding that women too can do better just like men.
Receiving the donation, Dedza Station Officer, Superintendent, Clement Mulera, expressed gratitude to the women while pledging to use the items for the intended purposes.
He has since pleaded with the Muslim community to continue working hand in hand with Police in order to make their respective areas safe and secure.
Chief Kaomba wants intensified irrigation farming
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, April 14, Mana: Senior Chief Kaomba of Kasungu has called for more investments in irrigation farming to avert the famine that threatens thousands of families in the district following poor rains in the 2023/24 season.
He said this on Saturday during a field day organised by Seed-Co Malawi at Chilanga in Chipala Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Kasungu district.
Kaomba said it is hard to fight hunger when farming is only done in three to four months in a year followed by eight to nine months of idleness.
He said: “Farmers must get into clubs, establish anchor farms and start serious irrigation farming. We must ensure that every irrigable land is put to full use so that farmers are busy throughout the year.
“With the climatic changes, farmers must be keen to follow advice from the Ministry of Agriculture through extension workers on the use of modern farming techniques including manure making and planting hybrid seeds.”
Kaomba said when farmers get into groups, they can easily access irrigation equipment through Agriculture Commercialization (AGCOM) and the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) to enable them produce enough crops for food and commercial purposes.
Seed-Co Malawi Agronomy Manager, James Mtiyesa, said they organized the field day to showcase to farmers the hybrid varieties that can be adopted in the face of changing climatic patterns.
He said: “Our key message is that we have a variety of hybrids for farmers and we urge these farmers to adopt them because they are very good in terms of tolerance to dry spells.
“We want farmers to make money out of their work and this can be achieved if they adopt hybrid seeds which are on their own a promise that whoever plants them will have a bumper harvest and make money out of their farming.”
Kasungu is one of the 23 districts where President Lazarus Chakwera declared a state of disaster due to dry spells induced by El nino weather condition.
The dry spells have affected about 750, 000 hectares of maize representing 44.3 percent of the country’s crop area, putting at least 2 million farming households in the line of famine.
Senior Chief Kapoloma of Machinga dies
By Martin Chiwanda
Machinga, April 14, Mana: Senior Chief Kapoloma of Machinga has died, Machinga district council has confirmed.
The chief died in the late hours of Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre where he was receiving medical attention.
Senior Chief Kapoloma, real name, Mabvuto Ahmadu was installed as Traditional Authority on December 6, 2014 and was elevated to Senior Chief in the year 2020.
He was born in 1952 and is survived by two wives, 25 children and 56 grandchildren.
His remains are expected to be buried today, Sunday April 14, 2024 at his Kapoloma headquarters.
NMC engages UNILIA students on networking
By Blessings Preston Memena
Mzuzu, April 14, Mana: Nyika Media Club (NMC), Friday engaged students pursuing Journalism and Development Communication Studies at University of Livingstonia (UNILIA)- Kaning’ina Campus on the importance of networking by among others joining media clubs.
President for NCM, Feston Malekezo said that joining such clubs opens a lot of opportunities for the students as they have an opportunity to be mentored by the club members and practicing journalists.
He said the club decided to engage the students to increase the club's membership base besides allowing them to have hands on experience through engagement with NMC's members in various media houses.
“What we learn in class, it’s only theory, so we encourage them to interact with professionals who have been in the media industry for a long time. We have a lot of things to offer to them. These include tailor made trainings,” said Malekezo.
In his remarks, Head of Department for Communication Studies at the university, Muyanga Ziba hailed the club for offering the students what he described as a rare opportunity.
He said the engagement was important for the students to sharpen their career paths and gain the practical aspect of the profession.
Chisomo Sumani a fourth year student ant the institution, commended the club for organizing the engagement meeting, saying it will go a long way in motivating them in their studies.
NCM was established in 2003 and currently, has membership of over 150 drawn from northern region.
