By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, April 13, Mana: Matamando Matseko (not her real name), aged 22, from Funachina Village in Traditional Authority Kalumbu in Lilongwe district, named her first born son Kamizere for giving birth between rocky ridges in a maize field.

“Picked on kabaza bicycle during odd hours, soaked in heavy rains mixed with lightning and thunders, with agonizing labour pains, we failed to cross Mlinda River which rainy water had burst its banks to Ntenthera Health Centre about five kilometres away.

“Women who were escorting me to the health centre couldn’t do otherwise, but assist me to deliver my baby in a maize garden, while men were waiting patiently at a distance. By God’s grace, the baby boy was born. Immediately, I called his name Kamizere for being born in a maize garden,” she narrates.

Matseko says with what had happened to her, she doesn’t have any interest to have another child any time soon.

“I am still traumatized; I am not healed yet mentally. Memories are still fresh in my mind, more especially when I pass this river going to the market.

“Thanks now to Governance for Enabled Service Delivery (GESD) project for constructing a K24 million bridge on Mlinda River. I am so happy and I will now give my son a middle name called Chimwemwe, to show my appreciation to this development,” she narrates with a smile of joy on her face.

Matseko is just one of the many women who have been giving birth in their homes and in the bush for failing to cross Mlinda River during rainy season.

The absence of a reliable bridge on Mlinda river also impeded children’s right to education during rainy season as they could not go to school.

Head teacher of Mataka II primary school, Chris Chawanda, says in the past leaners who were crossing the river, were unable to attend classes during rainy season because they couldn’t cross the river.

“Memories are still fresh, we lost two leaners on this river when they were trying to cross the river as they were coming to school during rainy season. Up to date, their bodies are not recovered. A dark cloud engulfed the whole school and the entire community.

“No one could believe that we have lost young learners just like that, we really thank the government for constructing this bridge here, our learners do not have any challenges when coming to school these days,” says Chawanda.

He further says the construction of a bridge on Mlinda river has also assisted in reducing absenteeism among learners more especially during rainy season, as parents could not allow their kids to risk their lives to cross the river.

Such memories also crept in the minds of Group Village Headman Funachina and his kinsmen as they walked on new Mlinda Bridge.

The traditional leader recalls: “It was a far-fetched dream to access health care services without challenges. Poor road network affected all aspects of our lives here from livelihood to human rights.”

Joy has overwhelmed communities in this part of Senior Chief Kalumbu who have to cross the river to access social services at Nkhoma and Kamphata respectively.

Apart from bringing new lease of life, Funachina says the new bridge is an asset to the development of his subjects.

“This bridge will allow us to enjoy our rights and be productive. As farmers, we rely on Kamphata market to sell our farm produce, but now our markets have widened.

“I am optimistic with this development, the livelihood of the people in this area will be totally transformed as they will be able to sell their farm produce to the right markets rather than selling to vendors at a loss as they have been doing,” he says.

The Area's Ward Councilor, Davison Mangani, says the initiative has allowed the duty bearers to serve communities with basic needs for their sustainable development.

He says: "The bridge is an answered prayer. People could not believe it when the construction of the bridge was announced during an Area Development Committee (ADC) meeting. Its completion has indeed reaffirmed their hope of more developmental activities coming to the area.

“We are so thankful to the government for this development. Good road network enhances socioeconomic development of an area. This bridge will now give people access to a lot of social services like schools, hospitals and agricultural markets,” says Mangani.

He says the construction of the bridge has also assisted in promoting cross-border trade between the people from our country and those from Mozambique as it only takes few hours to be in Mozambique where people go and purchase various commodities.

However, Mangani says there is need for government to think of constructing another bridge on Diaphwi river, which connects people of Lilongwe to Dedza up to Mozambique as the people are still using canoes to cross the river going to Mozambique.

“Should government construct a modern bridge on Diaphwi river then it will boost the cross-border trade between the two countries [Malawi and Mozambique] as currently the root is being used by vendors to run away from paying taxes for their goods,” says Mangani.

He added that if a new bridge can also be constructed on Diaphwi river, it will save the lives of many people who have been dying after drowning into the river from the canoes they are using.

“We have been losing a lot of people on that river. And when they draw into the river, their bodies are rarely recovered because the river is full of crocodiles,” says Mangani.

He has since urged communities surrounding the newly constructed Mlinda bridge to enhance protection of the river’s catchment area by among other things avoiding cultivating along river banks.

One of the kabaza motorcyclist in the area, Noel Maseko, also applauded the government for constructing the Mlinda bridge saying it has assisted in boosting their business as they are now cycling on the road without many challenges.

“It was boring when we reach here, customers were told to cross the river on their own, by foot and meet them on the other side of the river, a tendency that was time consuming,” he said.

Maseko adds that in the past they were not making a lot of money, but these days they are able to make reasonable amount of money because they are able to operate on the road several times in a day.

He further said the new bridge has also assisted farmers to be connected to agricultural markets at Kamphata and even in Lilongwe central markets, thereby reducing the poverty levels of the people.

Recently, Lilongwe District Council approved the new GESD and District Development Fund (DDF) projects which will be implemented in the 2024/2025 financial year.

Lilongwe District Council Vice Chairperson Dominic Banda said the projects that have been approved will prioritize the 11 constituencies that did not benefit from the funds previously.

However, Banda said despite prioritizing the 11 constituencies, the council will also be able to allocate at least one project in all constituencies from the funded money.

Banda then asked Members of Parliament, councilors and traditional leaders to take a leading role in supervising the progress and quality of the projects, saying the quality of the projects should tally with the funds allocated.

“I am happy that in this financial year, once we start our projects, they will never stop and we will honour the due dates because we will have the funds readily available. We don’t want to see projects such as classroom blocks without toilets. Let us be vigilant and love our country,” says Banda.

The K24 million Mlinda bridge was constructed through the Governance for Enabled Service Delivery (GESD) project implemented through the National Local Government Finance Committee, with funding from the World Bank.

By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, April 13, Mana: Centenary Bank has supported Pediatrics Trust with K2 million to help enhance provision of assistance to children in need of pediatric treatment.

Speaking during the cheque donation in Blantyre on Friday, Centenary Bank Head of Retail, Mayamiko Kalizang'oma, said his Bank decided to provide the support to the Trust as its work complements the Bank's commitment and mission.

“Centenary Bank is honored to give support towards the Trust, a cause that is close to our hearts and aligns with our commitment to supporting the well-being of our community's most vulnerable members especially children.

“The vision of Pediatrics Trust is in line with our mission of transforming lives through inclusive, convenient, simplified and sustainable financial solutions,” Kalizang'oma said.

He added that the donation signifies the Bank's steadfast dedication to making a positive impact on the lives of children in need.

Kalizang’oma said every child deserves access to quality healthcare and support, and through the contribution to the Trust the Bank is taking a meaningful step towards ensuring that its vision becomes a reality.

He said the support to the Trust was made to reflect on the Bank’s core values on corporate social responsibility as they believe in giving back to the community and supporting causes that create a lasting impact.

“As a bank, we are committed to standing with Pediatrics Trust in their mission to provide essential care and resources to children in need of pediatric treatment,” he said.

He, therefore, urged other organizations in the country to join hands with the Trust to support in uplifting and transforming children’s lives.

Pediatrics Trust Administrator, Venancio Kapalamula, appreciated Centenary Bank for the support.

“Our hospital provides surgical services for children and we operate children from all over Malawi among other pediatric treatments and our goal is to provide free services as such we reach out to partners for help.

“For this reason we reached out to Centenary Bank and they responded. The donation will go towards the purchase of medical supplies,” Kapalamula said.

Pediatrics Trust was established in 2017 and has a clinic located at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Blantyre which conducts over 1,000 operations among children per month.

By Leah Malimbasa

Chikwawa, April 13, Mana: Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, has reassured Malawians that government is working towards raising a US$150 million deficit needed to complete phase 1 of the Shire Valley Transformation Program (SVTP).

Kawale was speaking in Chikwawa after inspecting works at the SVTP site and interacting with members of Kambadwe Cooperative on Friday.

“We visited SVTP site to witness first-hand the progress of the construction. We are aware of the delays which occurred due to the cyclone, but today I’ve seen tremendous progress,” Kawale said.

On concerns over availability of resources, Kawale disclosed that discussions were ongoing with some development partners for the project.

Kawale said the recent passed 2024/2025 budget, resources were allocated for the project and development partners are eager to ensure the programme's completion.

The Minister is optimistic that the vision of having a food-secure nation will become a reality through the SVTP.

Senior Chief Kasisi concurred with Kawale that food security will only be achieved through irrigation farming.

“Currently, we only harvest once a year but once the SVTP project is completed, these cooperatives will be having multiple harvests in a year,” said chief Kasisi.

Secretary for Kambadwe Cooperative, Anne Kholophethe, said the project will transform lives as they already identified markets for the cash crops they will be producing as a cooperative.

“We have been trained on how to run a cooperative and, currently, we have saved K2.8 million to invest in our 294 hectares of land,” said Kholophethe.

After interacting with farmers at Kambadwe Cooperative, the minister visited Nkhate Irrigation Scheme and interacted with farmers under Nkhate Water Users Association and Nkhate Cooperative.

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, April 13, Mana:  Senior Health Promotion and Public Relations Officer for Blantyre District Health Office, Chrissy Banda, has disclosed that the district has recorded 14 cases of people who consumed alcohol known as ‘Ambuye Nditengeni’ whereby 10 are registered dead.

Banda disclosed this Friday at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre during a media engagement aimed at updating the media on disease outbreaks and capacitating them on Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM), a procedure that enables local communities to raise grievances with health facilities and seek redress when they feel aggrieved.

Banda said preliminary findings of all 14 victims, who consumed the alcohol believed to be made from ethanol, are males aged between 22 to 56 years and they consumed it from different local drinking spots in Manase Township, Blantyre.

“The preliminary findings have established that the alcohol has poison in it. We are still waiting for laboratory results which, according to the pathologist, will take two to three weeks to get confirmed.

"Investigations are still underway as there are some recommendations that police and other stakeholders should facilitate mass inspection and closure of drinking spots selling Ambuye Nditengeni widely Known as Magagada,” said Banda.

She added that health education in communities on alcohol abuse, surveillance and issuance of two press releases related to Magagada are some of the interventions that have been done so far.

Banda urged Health Surveillance Assistants and community members to report quickly to Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response coordinator in case of occurrence of new cases.

In a separate interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Joseph Sauka, said police have swung into operation to arrest those selling illicit alcohol, advising imbibers to be responsible when taking as well as choosing alcohol that would not compromise their health.

“As investigations are still underway, currently, some other make shift drinking spots (shabeen) owners have been arrested. We have put measures to counteract the effects of selling such alcoholic drinks. It is the responsibility of every consumer to refrain from non-standardized alcohol to avoid putting lives at risk,” said Sauka.

By Mervin Namikungulu

Machinga, April 13, Mana: Government has assured people of Mangochi and surrounding areas that it is closely monitoring water level situation in Lake Malawi and Shire River through Kamuzu Barrage amid heavy downpour in recent days.

The assurance comes following an appeal from concerned people from Mangochi asking government to consider increasing the volume of water which passes through the barrage as it is believed to contribute to flash floods in the area.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting on Friday after an inspection tour of the barrage, Commissioner for Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Charles Kalemba, said the barrage is managed to control water flow which affects upper stream of Shire River, lakeshore areas and downstream areas of Nsanje and Chikwawa.

Kalemba refuted claims that the barrage is sometimes closed or reduces its capacity to control water flow.

He said: "The barrage operates using an automatic software which is computer based. So, when water levels change, the machines detect and sounds an alarm. It is not true that the barrage is sometimes closed."

Mangochi concerned citizens chairperson, Councilor Wellington Mangulenje, has commended government for timely addressing their concerns.

Mangulenje appealed for collective efforts in conserving the environment to minimize devastating effects of climate change.

Currently, water levels in Lake Malawi and Shire River are said to be at 476.3 mm which is slightly below the 477mm highest recorded water levels.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretaries in the ministries of Lands, Local Government, Natural Resources, Water, representatives from DoDMA, District Commissioners for Mangochi and Machinga, Mangochi concerned grouping as well as district council officials, among others.

By Robert Nayeja

Chikwawa, April 13, Mana: Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, says government is committed to invest more in irrigation farming as one way of ensuring that people have enough food in the country.

Kawale made the remarks on Friday after touring Nkhathe Irrigation Scheme in Chikwawa.

He said his ministry will continue to empower schemes by providing necessary support so that farmers can produce more and make their families food secure.

"Malawi has experienced various natural phenomena such as dry spells and floods. This is a clear indication that, as a country, we cannot rely much on rain fed farming.  We need to put much resources in irrigation and provide solutions that irrigation farmers are facing in order to increase productivity," he said.

Kawale said his ministry will provide both technical and material support in order to enhance productivity in irrigation farming.

"We have seen problems that Nkhathe Irrigation Scheme and other schemes in the country are facing. As government, we are committed to take necessary actions so that we can address these challenges as we keep ensuring that irrigation schemes are operating smoothly and contribute positively to social economic development of the community and the nation at large," he said.

Nkhathe Irrigation Scheme Treasurer, Bernad Byone, said the scheme is experiencing low water supply due to the high demand of water for irrigation and has since asked government to intervene.

"Everyone has now discovered that irrigation farming is the way to go especially this time as the country is experiencing dry spell. This has made demand of irrigation farming grow in our area resulting in insufficient water for irrigation," he said.

Byone asked government to provide the scheme with high quality seeds and fertilizer.

The 243 hectare Nkhathe Scheme has 1,506 farmers.

The scheme grows crops such as maize, rice, and sweet potatoes.