MANAonline
Local initiatives drive positive change
By Patience Longwe
Lilongwe, March 5, Mana: Fokasi Malawi, a pioneering youth empowerment organization, is taking a bold step to support the education of students at Dzaleka Refugee camp on March 7,
The organization will donate essential learning materials to a school within the camp, providing a vital boost to the education journey of these young minds.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), Executive Director of Fokasi Malawi, Ousman Manda, said the organization is driven by a strong sense of self-reliance.
"We don't have to wait for other countries to help our students, we can too, that's why we are donating learning materials to a school in Dzaleka," he stressed.
Manda reiterated that the donation is not only a gesture of kindness but also a testament to the power of local initiatives in driving position change.
"As Fokasi Malawi continues to empower young minds, it is clear that the organization is playing a vital role in shaping the future of Malawi," he added.
By providing these learning materials, the organization is helping to bridge the educational gap and support the students in reaching their full potential.
Government to recruit 6,000 health workers
By Ruth Kumwenda
Blantyre, March 6, Mana: Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, said government through the ministry will recruit over 6,000 health workers across Malawi to improve timely access to healthcare and meet people’s demand for quality services.
Chiponda was speaking in Blantyre on Wednesday during an inspection tour of the various health facilities that are under construction and rehabilitation.
Interacting with Health Surveillance Assistants at Bangwe Health Center, Chiponda urged them to be dedicated to their duties, saying government plans to promote health workers and recruit more to improve services in central hospitals and other health facilities across the country.
“Yesterday we received a go ahead to recruit 6,000 workers which will also include promotions as we have so many health care providers who have upgraded and they now have diplomas and degrees but they are still holding the same position.
“The promotion interviews will commence in the second week of March and will include all workers whether nurses and midwives, HSAs and clinicians in the health sector,” the minister added.
She said that Bangwe Health Center has a wider catchment (area) with over 200,000 people, adding that there was need to make Bangwe facility a community hospital.
Chiponda disclosed that Ministry of Health also plans to have at least four community hospitals in the City of Blantyre to reduce congestion at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, as Blantyre City does not have a proper district hospital.
“Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital is meant to be a referral hospital and not supposed to treat conditions like coughs and diarrhea which could be treated at a health center,” she said.
The minister added that the proposed community hospitals should have their own theater rooms, dental clinics, and X-rays and other essential services similar to those at central hospitals.
Chaponda therefore hailed partners such as the World Bank and Global Fund for supporting government in constructing health facilities to improve health service delivery citing construction of an Infectious Disease Unit and wards at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.
A health worker at Bangwe clinic, Enerst Takumana, welcomed government’s plans to promote health workers with gratitude, saying, “I am excited about the promotion, I feel it is an opportunity to grow and establish more career objectives. I started working in 2014 with no promotion. This will enable me to explore some skills that I acquired in college and the promotion will be an amazing opportunity as the minister said."
At Mpemba Health Center, the minister inspected newly constructed maternity wing, visited the current maternity ward and vaccine storage room.
Mary Symon from Traditional Authority Somba told Malawi News Agency (Mana), that she was grateful to see construction of new maternity wing and expressed hope that the new wing will create more space for mothers.
“I am thankful to government; the expanded maternity wing will provide mothers with privacy and space. We deserve this," she added.
Ministry of Health recently opened Chiyendausiku maternity wing in Balaka District to improve maternal services in Balaka rural.
EU and Government launch Chilungamo II programme
By Pempho Kantayeni
Lilongwe, March 5, Mana: The Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, in partnership with the European Union (EU), has officially launched the Chilungamo II ‘Access to Justice’ programme as a continuation of the first Chilungamo Programme.
The initiative aims to enhance the humane and effective delivery of justice for all by addressing systemic challenges related to the accessibility and efficiency of key justice institutions in the country.
Speaking at the launch on Wednesday in Lilongwe, EU Ambassador to Malawi, Rune Skinnebach, reaffirmed that the programme will support the development of relevant laws and policies, along with institutional reforms to improve justice service delivery and enforcement mechanisms.
"Efforts will focus on empowering people to demand justice, increasing their motivation to engage with justice institutions, and ensuring that these institutions respond effectively," he said.
Skinnebach emphasized that the program's overall objective is to improve the humane and effective delivery of justice for all, particularly for those in marginalized and vulnerable situations.
“It’s supporting not only the justice system, but also the access to justice, in a way, supporting both the demand and the supply side. It gives access for the least privileged Malawians. It gives trust in the system. It holds the system accountable, and it strengthens the delivery of judiciary to Malawians,” he said.
In his remarks, Minister of Justice, Titus Mvalo highlighted the strategic importance of the program in supporting Malawi’s vision 2063, which envisions effective governance system rooted in the rule of law for an inclusive and self-reliant nation.
“The program will help address systemic challenges in access of justice and enhance the capacity of key justice institutions, the rule of law is crucial for building confidence in the government and driving social economic development in the country,” he said.
The Minister expressed his satisfaction with the progress made during the Chilungamo I project.
“we have so far progressed well with implementation of the programme through the support of all implementing partners namely; the Judiciary, the Malawi Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Legal Aid Bureau, Malawi Police Service, Malawi Prison Service and Ministry of Justice,” Mvalo said.
The Chilungamo II programme supported by the European Union, has a budget of 17 million euros of which 8.3 million are going to the seven justice institutions.
Chambo impressed with SAPP members
By Mwai Kumanda
Lilongwe, March 6, Mana: Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Benedicto Chambo, has expressed satisfaction with farmers from Mlomba Extension Planning Area (EPA) in Lilongwe for making strides in the Sustainable Agriculture Production Programme (SAPP).
Chambo made the remarks on Wednesday in the area of Traditional Authority Chingala where he went to see and appreciate how SAPP has benefited the farmers.
He said the only way the country can achieve food security is through working hard in the fields and taking part in different modern agricultural practices such as irrigation, saying rain-fed agriculture is no longer reliable due to climate change.
“SAPP 1 has achieved a lot in this EPA, you can see how farmers who benefited from this programme are explaining to us. They are happy because they are practising irrigation farming and some have their own livestock, this is a clear indication that SAPP is changing livelihood.
“As a ministry we are looking for food security and I’m glad to say that in this area we have achieved food security through SAPP 1,” he said.
One of the beneficiary Joyce Thom, thanked government for the initiative saying through the programme she has been able to take care of her family members and children through farming and rearing animals.
“Before SAPP our farming was unsustainable and our yields were low, but with the coming in of SAPP, everything changed through training and support. We learnt new farming practices, for instance, I have learnt to make manure which helps me to have bumper harvest and be able to feed my family, sale some and pay school fees for my children,” she said.
She further said that SAPP has not only improved their livelihoods but has also empowered the farmers to take farming as business.
SAPP is a programme aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and improving rural food security in Malawi by providing smallholder farmers with simple, affordable technologies to bridge the gap between actual and potential food crop yields.
COMSIP lauded for improving lives
By Tikondane Vega
Lilongwe, March 5, Mana: Principal Social Welfare Officer for Zomba City Council Linda Matayataya Zinyongo has commended Community Savings and Investments Promotion (COMSIP) for uplifting lives of vulnerable people in the district.
Zinyongo said this on Wednesday when members of the Bwaila COMSIP Cluster visited Tidalirane Cluster in Chikanda as part of a learning visit in the same district.
Bwaila cluster was formed in March 2024 under the Livelihood programme, while Tidalirane cluster was formed in 2021 as a result of the Covid response.
Speaking during the learning visit, she said COMSIP has been providing basic livelihood training, enhancing productive skills, and graduating households into sustainable livelihoods to help people be resilient to climate shocks.
“This learning visit has also been organized by COMSIP so that the two groups can learn from each other; particularly Bwaila being a new cluster would like to know more on how Tidalirane has survived all these years.
“It is due to this reason that Zomba city now has 263 cluster groups with a capital of K186 million. This is happening because COMSIP continues to equip its members with different skills including business and financial management,” said Zinyongo.
Juliet Fraser, case worker for Bwaila COMSIP Cluster, described their visit to Tidalirane as an eye opener, saying members have been equipped with new skills, adding participants have learned more from the old group.
Fraser said,” This visit has provided us with opportunities for mutual learning through deep exploration of issues that have helped us to understand some of the challenging issues in our group. In this cluster, we are 53 in total, and we plan to share K10 million on the 30th April, 2025.
“We are a new group with less than a year in operation, but we have achieved a lot at a group as well as individual level. Members have bought livestock, are paying school fees for children and have managed to buy fertilizer this year.
On his part, Gasten Mwepesa, who is the Community Facilitator for Tidalirane Cluster, said they feel honoured that some more groups are coming forward to learn from them.
“This means we are doing something good. In the meantime, we have K31 million as our capital among 37 people who are members. We are planning to buy a maize mill as well as a Minibus in the future, but also at an individual level, people’s lives have improved,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mercy Chaluma, Communication Development Officer for COMSIP said she is satisfied with how COMSIP groups are performing, saying this is the reason her organization decided to facilitate the learning visit of the two groups as one way of building resilient skills.
Government, UN Women push for better maternal health ahead of International Women’s Day
By Donald Zimba
Lilongwe, March 5, Mana: The Deputy Minister of Gender, Halima Daud, visited Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe today, in collaboration with UN Women and the Malawi Red Cross, to kick-start activities leading up to International Women’s Day on March 8.
Speaking during the visit, the Deputy Minister emphasized the importance of reaching out to women in hospitals who may not be able to join public celebrations.
“As women who are in the hospital, they cannot go out and celebrate, so the effort to come in and celebrate with them is what Women’s Day is all about,” she said.
While visiting the Kangaroo Mother Care section at KCH, Daud highlighted the critical need for improved maternal health services. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment, alongside partners such as the Red Cross and UN Women, to ensuring that women receive the care they deserve and that the health sector remains strong and effective.
“We are celebrating International Women’s Day, and preparations are going well. In fact, we have already started today as a ministry, with a number of activities lined up,” Daud stated.
She commended UN Women and the Malawi Red Cross for their continued support.
UN Women Country Representative, Letty Chiwara also spoke at the event, underscoring the link between maternal health and gender equality.
“Gender equality is a human rights issue, which is why we are here today as part of International Women’s Day. If we have safe motherhood, that directly translates into a safer community,” she said.
She acknowledged the progress Malawi has made but stressed that more work needs to be done.
“Yes, some strides have been made, but we can do more. The conditions for maternal health can improve, and there is so much more we can do to ensure that women receive the care they need,” she said.
“Women are the very foundation of development and sustainable communities,” Chiwara added, “No mother should have to die while giving life to the world.”
She emphasized the importance of collaboration between women and men in advancing maternal health and gender equality.
“We are honoured to be here. It is a team effort both women and men must work hand in hand towards safe motherhood. We are here to shine a light on maternal health and safety. Safe motherhood is not a privilege; it is a right,” she said, while also commending the Deputy Minister for her dedication.
The International Women’s Day activities will continue in Blantyre, where events celebrating women’s achievements and several training sessions involving approximately 65 sectors will take place.
This year’s theme is “Collectively, We Can Accelerate Action for Gender Equality”.
Salima District Council Proposes K32.9 Billion Budget for 2025/26 Fiscal Year
By Yankho Kandio
Salima, March 5 Mana: Salima District Council has unveiled a proposed budget of 32.9 billion Kwacha for the 2025/26 fiscal year, reflecting an increase of 8 billion Kwacha from the previous year’s budget.
The budget proposal was presented during a council meeting, on Tuesday and Chairperson for the Finance Committee, Chifungo Katoweka, outlined key allocations and revenue sources.
According to Katoweka, 20 billion has been earmarked for salaries and wages, while K1.7 billion will be directed towards various development activities, including infrastructure projects and social services.
"To finance the budget, the council projects collecting K5 billion in local revenue through taxes, with the remainder expected to come from central government allocations and donor support," he said.
During the meeting, Salima District Commissioner, James Mwenda emphasized the need for council members to thoroughly scrutinize the budget before implementation, ensuring that funds are utilized efficiently and effectively to meet people's needs.
However, concerns were raised by some council members regarding lack of proper consultations on the implementation of certain projects. Councilor for Makanjira ward, Esther Soko in attendance, voiced her dissatisfaction over the issue, stressing that community engagement should be prioritized to enhance transparency and accountability.
In response, District Commissioner Mwenda acknowledged the concerns and assured the council that efforts would be made to improve consultation processes and ensure that development projects reflect the priorities and needs of the local population.
The proposed budget underscores the council’s commitment to improving service delivery and supporting development initiatives. However, financial constraints remain a challenge, with a significant portion of the funding reliant on external sources.
The council is expected to deliberate further on the budget, with a focus on enhancing revenue collection strategies and ensuring equitable distribution of resources across the district.
As the budget discussions continue, stakeholders, including councilors, community leaders, and local residents are expected to engage in further dialogue to ensure that the district’s financial plan aligns with the development aspirations of Salima District.
Botanical gardens gets facelift with funding
By Patience Longwe
Lilongwe, March 4, Mana: The Director of the National Herbarium and Botanic Gardens of Malawi (NHBG), Zachariah Magombo, has lobbied for 1.1 billion kwacha to support the development of the country's botanical gardens.
Speaking during a cluster committee on Agriculture and Natural Resource on Tuesday at Parliament, Magombo emphasized the importance of having well-developed botanical gardens, citing examples from elsewhere in the world.
He noted that Malawi's botanical gardens, located in Mzimba, Lilongwe, and Mzuzu, lack basic amenities such as fences, walkways, restaurants and toilet facilities.
"The 1.1 billion kwacha funding will be used to undertake feasibility studies, develop infrastructure plans, and conduct maintenance work on the gardens," he said.
He also stressed that proper planning is essential to ensure that the infrastructure development is done correctly.
Meanwhile Co-Chair on Agriculture and Natural Resource Committee, Werani Chilenga, expressed support for the request, acknowledging the importance of national botanical gardens for the country.
"They emphasized the need for prudent use of the funds, highlighting two crucial areas, building human resource capacity and developing infrastructure around the botanic gardens," he stated.
Currently, the botanical gardens generate limited revenue, with only 85 million kwacha generated in the 2024-2025 financial year.
However, with proper funding, infrastructure development and staffing, the gardens are expected to become self-sustaining and generate their own revenue.
MACRA hails sign language teaching clubs
By Richard Kagunda
Kasungu, March 5, Mana: Project Officer for Universal Service Fund under Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), Rachael Chadowa, says sign language is an important tool and is crucial for development in the modern world.
Chadowa said this on Tuesday in Kasungu District when she inspected teaching of sign language by Kasungu Sign Language Club at Kasungu Demonstration Primary School.
MACRA trained teachers to be teaching sign language to children in primary schools and has formed 53 clubs across the nation with an aim of promoting communication using the language.
“In modern world, sign language has to be taught to almost everybody because it is crucial for development.
"The understanding is that if everybody knows sign language, it will be very easy to communicate to those that are deaf and hence ensuring that no one is left behind.
“We thought it wise that learners must learn sign language from a tender age. We believe that as they grow up they will be experts and will help to create a society that makes communication much easier between those with and without hearing impairments,” Chadowa said.
She said she was impressed with the progress of the lessons at the club, saying learners are fast able to grasp the tricks of the language.
Matron for the club, Mercy Nkosi, said learners have shown great interest in the language and are doing well to master it.
“We are optimistic that in the years to come we will have many learners communicating using sign language with some level expertise as many children are joining our club.
"Let me applaud MACRA for equipping us with the knowledge of sign language which we are transferring to our learners," she said.
Nkosi, however, bemoaned lack of adequate learning materials for the club.
One of the learners, Praise Mzembe, expressed gratitude to MACRA for making sign language accessible to them through their teachers saying now the pupils are able to communicate with other learners that have hearing problems.
Mzembe appealed to fellow youngsters to learn sign language to reduce communication challenges with their deaf counterparts.
Malawi to commemorate International Women's Day
By Lesnat Kenan
Lilongwe, March 4, Mana: Deputy Minister for Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Halima Daud says Malawi will join the international community in commemorating the International Women's Day on March 8, 2025.
Speaking during a press briefing in Lilongwe, Daud emphasized the importance of creating a fair and inclusive world where all women and girls have equal opportunities, rights, access to leadership and decision-making spaces.
Daudi also added that the main objective of the 2025 International Women's Day commemoration is to celebrate the achievements of women and girls while advocating for their rights, equality and empowerment.
"To accelerate progress toward gender equality, Malawi will this year focus on areas such as promoting gender equality by addressing systematic barriers through inclusive policies, wage gaps, improved education, healthcare access and implementing gender-responsive budgeting", she added.
She further stated that the day in Malawi is a call to action for all sectors, the government, private sectors and communities among others to invest in gender equality and empowerment.
Daudi thanked the United Nations (UN) family, World Vision Malawi and all partners who are supporting the International Women's Day this year.
In her remarks, UN Women Country Representative to Malawi Letty Chiwala said Malawi is still facing challenges in promoting women's rights, equality and empowerment as compared to other countries worldwide.
She said there is a limited number of women in political, agriculture and education sectors, among others, which is worrisome, and the commemoration of this day seeks to address such issues to ensure that women are contributing to the economy of the country.
This year's International Women's Day will be commemorated under the theme "All Women and Girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment.
