By Vida Msiyo

Blantyre, December 4, Mana: Poet Maxwell Mnjemu has released a poem titled Not Just a Banner, adding his voice on the campaign against gender-based violence (GBV) as 16 Days of Activism Against GBV continues.

A stanza from the poem, which emphasizes the importance of equality and actionable steps to GBV, reads:
Not just a banner, not just a phrase
Equality calls in a million ways
it whispers in classrooms, factories, in fields
In rights that every person yields.

Mnjemu told Malawi News Agency (MANA) that the poem goes beyond words, calling for concrete actions to address GBV, appealing for collective activism, real and sustainable measures to combat GBV in the country.

“This is not just a poem, it is about interventions we are implementing to mitigate GBV, many people only put GBV in headlines but fail to do activities that prevent it. We need to engage communities, empower survivors and educate people on the importance of equality to achieve real change,” he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, Executive Director for the Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC), Emma Kaliya, emphasized the importance of consistent advocacy and hailed use of art as an effective tool in addressing GBV.

“Using art is the best way to reach out to people, unlike speeches that are easily forgotten. Artistic forms like poetry, theatre, drama and music stay with people longer; they spark discussions even after performances,” she said.

Kaliya noted that while the 16 Days of Activism Against GBV are crucial in raising awareness, the fight against GBV requires continuous and sustained efforts throughout the year to create a meaningful impact.

“In real sense, GBV should be tackled throughout the year. If we had resources, it would be ideal to empower communities and advocate for the entire 365 days,” she said.

The 16 Days of Activism Against GBV is an annual campaign that calls for global action to end violence against women and girls.

The campaign runs from November 25 to December 10.

By Milcah Mathias

Blantyre, December 4, Mana: Participants to the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF) training workshop have commended the electronic tariff system that is yet to be introduced by Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), observing that it will ease duty procedures and trade.

GATF in partnership with other organizations hosted a two-day training workshop in Blantyre with the aim of building capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Malawi on various topics about export readiness.

In its presentation, MRA demonstrated on the usage of the electronic tariff to acquaint the participants with the new platform for easier operation of duty procedures as MRA is yet to roll out the new tariff.

The electronic tariff is integrated with features of online tariff tool such as; search by keyword or tariff code; browse through the tariff book by section and chapter; access legal notes; display rates of duty for different trade agreements.

The online tariff tool also consists of; view excise and other duties; estimate duties based on tariff code and country of origin and prohibited and restricted items among other sections.

One of the participants, General Manager for Crystal Wave Freight Logistics Limited, Geoffrey Singano, commended the e-platform, saying the system will ease trade.

“As agents and exporters, we will have clear information when it comes to the new electronic system that MRA will be using and we will be having easy access to information about billings and we will know how to accurately charge our clients,” said Singano.

Executive Director for Clothing Brand SMART Wardrobe, Bertha Chibondo, hailed the e-platform, noting that it will help out small-scale businesses to know clear guidelines on customs duties and regulations that will help traders to be abreast with full knowledge; thereby avoiding compliance barriers.

Executive Director of Swift Sew Tailoring School, Musonda Mitchel, hailed the new e-tariff, saying it is a positive development, which will help small businesses to accurately forecast import and export costs; hence, helping in financial planning.

“This is a good development as we are going to have up to date information and in advance as well as what is it that we are paying for, since information will be easily accessed,” said Mitchell.

The benefits of Online Tariff Tool by MRA also ranges from accessing tariff-related information via web browser or mobile devices; 24/7 accessibility to streamline trade processes for both the public and MRA, transparency, cost-reduction, fast decision making and facilitating compliance and revenue generation by providing up-to-date customs data.

Monitoring and Evaluation Coordination Support from GATF, Ruth Makwakwa, urged the participants to utilize the knowledge by applying what they have learnt and gained from the training.

Makwakwa encouraged participants to document businesses they are undertaking so as to show how they are progressing as a result of the knowledge from the training.

GATF supports governments in developing and least developed countries in implementing the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.

By Linda Likomwa

Halombe, December 4, Mana: Communities in Phalombe are eager to embrace Digital Finance Services (DFS) as it has been proved to be a fast and secure way of receiving and sending money.

Speaking Wednesday, Traditional Authority (TA) Mkhumba said DFS is convenient considering that transactions can be made anytime, can reduce impulse buying, encourages savings and a secure way of keeping money, among others.

“Our shops have opening and closing periods to provide services, but with DFS you can still get the services you want through on-line transaction,” she said.

Mkhumba said some people have failed to fulfill their plans because they had hard cash and they prioritized impulse buying at the expense of their plans.

She, therefore, pledged to raise awareness in her area together with her 18 group village heads and 106 village heads.

A community member, Patricia Mugwa, from Mahoria Village, TA Mkhumba said DFS would be a way of eliminating security fears people have when they carry hard cash.

Mugwa said government should raise awareness in the community for people to fully understand the importance of DFS because some still have reservations on its use.

“As a country, we have to raise this awareness. For example, today we are here waiting to receive our wages for Climate Smart-Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) and we have been here close to four hours now, but the officials are not yet here to pay us," she said.

Mugwa added that if they were to receive their wages through Mpamba or Airtel Money mobile wallets, they could have been home and others in their small business to uplift their livelihood, noting that during pay day they spend the whole day unproductively.

District Commissioner for Phalombe, Douglas Moffat, said the awareness has come at an opportune time when all beneficiaries of social cash transfer in the district would now start receiving their money using Mpamba.

Moffat, therefore, asked the DFS team to emphasize on issues of security because a lot of people have been robbed off their money.

By Aisha Chiwaya

Salima. December 4, Mana: Care Malawi on Tuesday commenced distribution of relief money aimed at curbing cases of malnutrition in Salima District as part of El Nino response.

Beneficiaries, that have been drawn from Traditional Authorities (TA) Pemba, Ndindi and Maganga, will receive K140, 000 for two months until January 2025.

Speaking during the launch of the exercise, District Nutrition Officer for Salima District Hospital, Macdonald Mtengula, highlighted that the intervention is expected to benefit 1,544 households targeting expectant mothers, malnourished children and the elderly.

"The funds will assist to buy six food groups to improve their health for two months," he said.

Mtengula expects that the intervention will improve nutrition status of the beneficiaries if they use the money wisely.

TA Maganga commended Care Malawi for the exercise saying it will help reduce hunger.

"My area was greatly affected by drought as such most households are not food secure. Therefore, we appreciate such gestures from well-wishers and we ask others to emulate it," she said.

One of the beneficiaries of the project, Agness Zwaki, described the cash she received as timely.

“Last season we did not harvest due to El Nino weather conditions. We were worried as to how we would sustain ourselves and our families but we are good to go with this money,” she said.

The beneficiaries are also expected to receive 50 kilogram of maize in the next two months.

Care Malawi is distributing the funds in partnership with GIZ through the government of Malawi.

By Richard Kagunda

Kasungu, December 4, Mana: Principal Secretary for Department of Procurement and Supply Services, Chikumbutso Mtumodzi, has emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in procuring and supplying of government commodities saying this helps to prevent all forms of corruption.

Mtumodzi said this in Kasungu on Wednesday when he visited and inspected the works of Central Government Stores offices in the district.

He said his office has come up with an action plan that is geared to provide proper guidance on how workers under the department and other government institutions must conduct themselves during procuring and supplying of commodities.

"We are on tour checking sub-offices under the department to correct any anomalies that were there and appreciating the positive things therein so that the action plan that we have put in place works efficiently and becomes a success.

"Generally, works under the department are going on quite well as more people have realized that commodities procured from the department are of good prices and are recommended by the government," Mtumodzi said.

He added: "The action plan will enable workers in government institutions not to go astray when procuring and supplying. Soon we will be distributing leaflets containing all the information about us."

Supplies Assistant for Central Government Stores in Kasungu, Joseph Kalenje, said it is paramount for ministries, departments and agencies to be working hand in hand with his office thereby helping that government funds are not lost or exploited.

"It is paramount for them to be working with us because government money flows from one institution to the next and this is one way of combating crookedness and corruption.

"Besides that, when they work with us only one quotation is provided to them to procure several commodities which is not the case when they do the procurement with other departments outside government," Kalenje said.

He pointed out that one of the challenges the department faces is that most entities are not aware of their presence in the district and urged them to take note and open up to work with them.

The Department of Procurement and Supply Services was set up by an Act of Parliament to procure, manage and dispose of suppliers or assets required for public use in ministries, departments, and agencies.

By Prisca Mashushu

Lilongwe, December3, Mana: Deputy Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, Owen Chomanika, has hailed national arts and heritage workshop as crucial in promoting culture in the country.

He made the remarks Wednesday at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe during a two-day workshop, which aims at increasing national awareness, understanding and appreciation of the mandate, powers and operations of national arts and heritage in the country.

The Minister said the coming in of the national arts and heritage will help to make the industry robust and big by promoting competitiveness and innovation from different people of the country.

“The workshop has underscored important policies that matter which includes promoting cultural exchange, building community identity through traditional dances and music, folktales and crafts, literature and poetry, culinary traditions, language dialects and others.

“We are now going to be able to actualise arts and heritage policies on the ground since we are good at making policies without implementing them,” he explained.

Acting Deputy Executive Secretary for the Malawi National Commission for UNESCO, David Mulera, said everyone should actively participate and contribute to the issues of arts and heritage since it plays a crucial role in everyday life.

“The workshop has helped participants to make policies implementable on the ground.

“It will help to address and strengthen cultural arts and heritage activities since it contributes not only to the economy of the country but also is a source of employment and entertainment to the native people,” he said.

Coordinator for the Chewa Heritage in Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique, Senior Chief Lukwa, thanked government for implementing cultural heritage saying it will help traditional leaders to obtain resources for it’s operations from government easily.

“This is going to help expose our culture to other countries thereby attracting foreigners that can bring the much needed forex,” he explained.

One of the participants from the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST), Roselyn Peter Thompson, said the coming of the law will help boost the industry that has been undermined for a long period of time despite it’s potential to boost sustainable development in the country.

“People will be able to express themselves through music, traditional dances, arts and others due to the availability of the new law passed in Parliament that promote arts and heritage in the country,” she said.

By Andrew Phiri

Balaka, December 4, Mana: Ministry of Finance in partnership with Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) and AC Consulting have urged people in the country to adopt electronic ways of financial transactions on business activities in order for government to save money it spends to print new bank notes.

RBM Senior Analyst, Blaim Mofolo, made the remarks in Balaka on Tuesday when appreciating Digitalization Financial Inclusion and Competitiveness (DFIC) project awareness campaign currently underway in the district.

"This project is encouraging people to use technological ways of sending and receiving money as opposed to old ways whereby people would use cash on every transaction.

"As RBM, we know that with digital money it is hard for someone to lose money either through theft, fire or natural disasters," he said.

Ministry of Finance DFIC Project E-Trade Specialist, Sangwani Mkandawire, said the project is aimed at empowering rural communities and marginalized people on social economic welfare by leveraging in digitization and competitiveness on trade activities.

He said: "Government is committed to providing strong relationships within various social economic programs targeting people in rural communities such as Social Cash Transfer, Village Savings and Loans Groups, among others, hence embracing digital ways of financial transactions would ease the link."

Balaka Digital Financial Services (DFS) Field Supervisor for AC Consulting, Bernadette Maele, said the campaign will help spread technical skills and knowledge on how business operators, consumers and other parties would embrace fast, easy and secured digital ways of financial transactions.

DFIC awareness campaign, commonly known as DFS, is being implemented in Balaka for 20 days with financial support from African Development Bank (AfDB).

It will also run across the country with a major aim of embarking Malawians to a digital financial transaction era.