MANAonline
CDF Canada to boost fish farming in Nkhotakota
By Beauty Ziba
Nkhotakota, November 27, Mana: Cooperation Development Foundation of Canada (CDF) is set to implement a five-year Integrated Aquaculture Agriculture Systems project in Nkhotakota district, as one way of combatting food Insecurity in Malawi.
In an interview after a District Executive Committee meeting held at the Nkhotakota District Council Chamber on Tuesday, CDF Forest Extension Specialist, Batson Mazungwi, said the project is integrating different components such as fishponds, livestock agriculture, crops and trees whereby if people adopt it, they will be able to harvest more food and generate more income as well as better nutrition.
"We want to train fish farmers through our partners so that they should be able to produce more high-quality dependable products and supply to the market throughout the country and beyond,” said Mazungwi.
Principal Fisheries Officer, Wyson Ngwira, commended the coming of the project to Nkhotakota, saying it is directly addressing some of the issues they are facing in the district.
‘We have many fish farmers in Nkhotakota with over 400 individual fishponds on a subsistence basis and the coming in of CDF Canada bringing in components on upscaling and marketing will help boost fish business for farmers across the district,’ said Ngwira.
Principal Agriculture Officer, Prince Shaibu, is looking forward to work with the organization in Nkhotakota to ensure the goals of combating food insecurity are achieved.
Council cracks down on cattle roaming
By George Mponda
Karonga, November 27, Mana: Traditional chiefs and Karonga District Council officials have joined forces to impound stray cattle found roaming the streets of Karonga Town in a move to boost sanitation and public safety,
In an interview with Malawi News Agency Wednesday, Group Village Head (GVH) Mwahimba said for some long time traders, customers and residents around Karonga Town have been complaining of the cattle which were just loitering around.
"In a collaborative effort, together with GVH Katolola, GVH Mweniyumba, and the ward councillor, we formulated new bylaws stating that any cow found roaming in town will be impounded, and owners must pay a K50,000 fee for its return."
"To this end, before commencing this operation we went around informing residents about the development and yesterday, we managed to impound over 100 cattle which are being kept at the Main Market Slaughterhouse and some owners have already come to get their livestock," Mwahimba said.
The GVH explained that since the individuals impounding the cattle are doing this on a voluntary basis, some of the money from the fines will be used as an upkeep allowance for them.
On her part, Tereza Mhango from Luhimbo Village who had her cow impounded said she will now be tethering it to ensure she is not fined anymore.
"I left my cow with a herdsman but he just let it run around and thats when it was brought here. I have paid K50 000 of my hard earned money to get it back and I have learnt a bitter lesson from this," he said.
Karonga Main Market Chairperson, Godwin Ghambi expressed frustration that despite repeated warnings, cattle owners have ignored pleas to keep their cattle from roaming freely, leaving authorities with no choice but to take action.
"Cows were eating vegetables on sale, obstructing traffick and defecating anywhere leaving a pungent smell around Karonga Town. If people cannot manage to keep their cattle responsibly around town, then it is better to send the cows to the village where they can roam freely without causing havoc," he said.
Dedza community tackles food insecurity with grain bank
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, November 27, Mana: Communities under Group Village Head Nyanga, Traditional Authority (TA) Kaphuka in Dedza have successfully mitigated the impact of the 2023/2024 drought through innovative grain banking and modern farming initiatives.
On Wednesday, over 40 households from the community benefited from the grain bank initiative, receiving three bags of maize, 15 kilogrammes of beans, and K20, 000 each.
Group Village Head Nyanga, the brainchild behind the initiative, said: "Our grain bank, established in 2010, has been instrumental in helping our community combat hunger and poverty."
Nyanga said the initiatives began as a village bank before evolving to incorporate maize and bean farming to enhance its impact.
“After fulfilling our household needs, we started lending excess produce to neighboring villages at a reasonable interest rate.
“This year we have amassed 600 bags of maize, 40 bags of beans, and a significant cash reserve. We are distributing these resources among our members and extending loans to those in need,” he said.
He said Self Help Africa supported the initiative with goats, fertilizer, fruits seedlings and conservation agriculture skills.
Eveta Gibsion, 76, said prior to the initiative she struggled to make ends meet surviving on piece works and charitable donations.
She said despite losing her husband, the initiative has stepped in to fill the gap and is able to provide for her seven grandchildren.
Self Help Africa Sustainable Production, Economic Growth Accountability and Resilience Programme Coordinator, Bulton Mwale, said the grain bank has helped communities to properly manage their farm produce.
“Nyanga Grain Bank is in line with the concept of Self Help Africa of community grain bank where people need to bring their harvest at one place during harvest so that during the lean season they are able to share out,” he said.
He said the initiative is in line with Malawi 2063, which promotes availability of food at household.
He commended collaboration between the community and leaders saying it has led to success of the initiative.
Zeze to host Zeze Experience
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, November 27, Mana: A renowned multiple award winning singer and song writer, Zeze Kingston, will on November 30 perform at Moneymen Ground in Blantyre under the theme 'The Zeze Experience'.
A South African based singer Mr Brown, Malinga Mafia, Gwamba, Kell Kay, Tuno, Quest, Afana Ceez, Nae Rae, Malimba Music, Black Don, Inkosi Jay Vee, Deo Grunger among other supporting artist have teamed up to spice the event.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday Zeze, who is also the organizer of the show, said the event is aimed at giving direct interaction on his music journey to entertainment lovers.
"Most shows are hosted during the night. This one will begin in the morning to show children, through music, how the journey of life begins. Later on, it will be scaled up for the elderly at night.
“Music is an integral part of cinematic experience since it has the power to evoke emotions, set people's mode and enhance storytelling. As such, I am urging people to come in large numbers to learn from my experience and should consider the event as a family day,” said Zeze.
Zeze popularly known as music Mayor said people should expect a lot of popping music and recipients will be given a performance, which will symbolize the value of their entry fee due to his energetic performance.
Some of the activities to take place at the event include family games, jumping castle, family-to-family interaction, fun land games section and dancing as DJ Drew, DJ Boo, DJ Nyenyezi and DJ V2G will be on the decks.
In a separate interview with the South African based 'Rain on Me’, hit maker, Mr Brown, said he is geared to share his music with the patrons.
"I am urging people to come in large numbers to experience new genre of music. I am ready to perform and entertain the people of Malawi since this show will give me a chance to interact directly with other musicians," said Brown.
Chimwemwe Damiano, one of the entertainment lovers commended Zeze for organizing the show, saying most of the times artist exclude children.
He said he is ready to partake the show together with his wife and two children.
"I am expecting harmony and good rhythm. The event has come at a right time where I and my family were looking for a place to spend the weekend. It is good to have a feel of live music because it's part of stress relief,” said Damiano.
Police condemn vandalism at Magawa Secondary School, three students nabbed
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, November 27, Mana: Police in Mchinji have taken into custody three students from Magawa Secondary School for allegedly masterminding protests by fellow students that led to of vandalism of property belonging to the school.
According to reports filed by police, some angry students on Monday torched the head teacher's office after 21 students were called for a disciplinary hearing for leaving the school campus premises without a permit.
Before the disciplinary outcomes were given, some students organized themselves and petrol-bombed the office.
The office had items whose value was not yet established, including books, shelves, tables, chairs, and other materials.
According to Mchinji Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Limbani Mpinganjira, the police visited the scene and identified some exploded bottles suspected to have been used in the arson.
“Police have arrested three students in connection to the case, and investigations are underway to trace the other students behind the act who are still at large,” said Mpinganjira.
UCSSACCO drills Journalists in financial management
By Patience Longwe & Andrew Mkonda
Lilongwe, November 26th, Mana: The Chief Executive Officer for the United Civil Servants Saving and Credit Cooperative Society LTD (UCSSACCO), Francis Waliwa, has urged journalists in the country to develop a culture of serving money for investments and future use.
Waliwa made the call Tuesday in Lilongwe during a financial management training for the journalists drawn from central region.
He noted that many people in the country including journalists fail to embrace the saving culture because of the mentality of saying they will start saving when they start earning more money.
“No matter how little you get; it is important to save something. Remember any journey starts with a single step. So don’t underrate any amount you save,” he said
Waliwa said the main challenge that many people have in the country is that they are used to spending their cash on things they don’t budget for.
“Mind you, the money you spend on things you didn’t budget for, would have assisted you in the future if it was saved. Let’s have a culture of saving at least ten percent of any amount we get, your life won’t be the same again,” he said
Commenting on the matter, Lydia Banda, a journalist working with Ulimi Radio, hailed UCSSACCO for the training saying it was an eye opener to journalists on financial management.
Banda said it sad to see many people who were famous when they were working, but soon after their retirement they start suffering and others even die within short period of time.
UCSSACCO is a member owned institution that offer a range of savings and credit products to civil servants, parastatals and private organizations in the country.
The institution is rated among the top 10 best performing SACCOs in Southern Africa.
CDF Canada launches project to address food insecurity
By alexander Tchongwe
Mzimba, November 27, Mana: Cooperative Development Foundation of Canada (CDF Canada) has announced the launch of a new project aimed at integrating aquaculture and agriculture to address food insecurity in Malawi.
Sponsored by the Government of Norway, the five-year initiative, running from 2024 to 2028, will target eight districts, including Mzimba, to promote sustainable economic and social development.
Speaking in Mzimba on Wednesday, IAAM Specialist for CDF Canada, Tiwonge Soko Nyirenda, explained that the project focuses on creating a self-reliant system by integrating fish farming with other value chains.
“The project integrates fish ponds with crops like rice, maize, yellow sweet potatoes, and fruit trees under agroforestry.
“This system allows farmers to use pond mud as fertilizer for vegetables and pond water for irrigating crops, minimizing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Livestock, such as rabbits, are also incorporated, with rabbit urine used as an organic fertilizer and pesticide alternative,” Nyirenda said.
According to Nyirenda, the project was inspired by the need to help farmers diversify their income sources, especially following recent challenges like Cyclones Freddy and Ana, which devastated fish farms.
“Many farmers rely solely on fish farming, and when disasters like cyclones hit, their livelihoods are wiped out. This project introduces diversification, so farmers can turn to other income-generating activities, like livestock or sweet potato farming, if one enterprise is affected. This boosts nutrition and economic resilience,” Nyirenda said.
Fisheries Officer for Mzimba South, Andrew Saukani, commended CDF Canada for the initiative, noting its potential to address key challenges faced by fish farmers.
The K841.3 million project targets 1,528 individuals across Malawi, with 167 farmers in Mzimba from areas such as Eswazini, Kazomba, Manyamula, Mbalachanda, and Zombwe.
A motorcycle rider dies in a road accident
By Nolious Gondwe
Mzuzu, November 27, Mana: A 30 year- old motorcycle rider, Peter Kaunda died Tuesday in a road accident which occurred at Msiki along Mzuzu-Ekwendeni M1 Road.
According to Deputy Public Relations Officer of Mzuzu Police Station, Cecilia Mfune, Kaunda was riding unregistered King-Lion Motorcycle from the direction of Ekwendeni heading Mzuzu City
She said that Kaunda collided with an oncoming vehicle, Toyota Hilux Pick- up, registration number CHS 2606 FS which was being driven by Aaron Hamilton as he was overtaking a truck and sustained severe head injuries.
“Kaunda was pronounced dead upon arrival at Mzuzu Central Hospital while Hamilton sustained minor injuries,” Mfune said.
She urged road users to exercise caution and adhere to road safety rules and regulations to prevent such type of accidents.
" We appeal to all road users to be vigilant in observing traffic rules to avoid loss of lives," she said.
Kaunda hailed from Mkondezi Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay District.
Theft of water meters’ worries CRWB
By Timothy Peter
Dedza, November 27, Mana: Central Region Water Board (CRWB) says it was losing a lot of money due to theft of water meters in Dedza, a development the board says was affecting a lot of households in accessing safe and potable water in the district.
The Board’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Zefelino Mitumba, revealed this on Tuesday during a stakeholder’s consultation meeting held at Mountain View Lodge in the district.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), he said 98 water meters were stolen in 2023 and 35 water meters were stolen in 2024.
Mitumba stated that one meter costs about K 90, 000 to 150,000 adding the board has lost a maximum of K 20 million in replacing the stolen water meters within the last two years.
"There is a lot of meter theft in the district mainly around Dedza Town. The trend does not seem to be dying and the loss of meters is crippling service delivery each passing day at the same time affecting collection of revenue," he said.
According to Mitumba, other challenges that the institution meets in its pursuit of providing clean water to Dedza residents include unpaid water bills and deforestation which all contribute to the current persistent water crisis in the district.
He said the aim of the consultation meeting was to allow stakeholders come up with a Water Users Committee to help in providing civic education to residents about their role in taking care of CRWB property.
"The water-users committe will act as a bridge between the service provider (the board) and the service recipient (water users). We have huge expectations from the committee to help customers that we serve so that they become responsible customers," Mitumba said.
Chairperson for the new committee, Said Bout promised to take a step in dealing with some of the challenges that have worsened the water situation in the district.
“As a measure to water meter theft, our committee has since resolved that the responsibility of replacing the stolen meters is now with the recipients of the commodity as opposed to the previous years where CRWB was taking full control,” he emphasized.
The stakeholders meeting brought together Group village heads around Dedza Boma and a community member representing each village.
AIP progress impresses agriculture authorities
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, November 27, Mana: Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resource at Kasungu District Council, Evelyn Chima says changes that government has effected in the implementation of the Agriculture Inputs Programme (AIP) have helped to tighten security, ensuring that only targeted households benefit from the initiative.
Among others, this year’s redemption process requires a facial scanning of the beneficiaries, effectively cutting off vendors who used to buy the inputs from beneficiaries in the previous years.
“We used to complain that inputs were missing in the beneficiaries’ allocations and that vendors were redeeming the inputs after buying the IDs from beneficiaries.
“This time, those things are not there because the facial features required have sieved out all the vendors. It’s a feature we have always been asking and we are happy that it has been done,” she said in an interview on Wednesday in Kasungu.
Kasungu District has a total of 63 249 beneficiaries in the 2024/25 AIP programme.
Asked on the progress so far, Chima said the redemption exercise started immediately after the programme was officially launched hence many farmers have accessed the fertiliser in good time.
“For Kasungu, the growing season starts mid-November, all the way to early December. The selling of inputs started in October meaning many households have accessed fertilisers in good time.
“As of November 20, redemption was at 31 percent. This is good progress and an improvement if compared to last year and I hope by this time the figures have significantly improved,” she said.
At least 20, 000 bags of NPK and about 7, 000 bags of Urea have been redeemed, with figures expected to rise exponentially as rains begin this November end when many farmers are expected to start planting.
“We agreed to start deliveries in hard to reach areas so that when rains begin, we should not have challenges as some roads become impassable.
“This explains why some areas have lower redemption rates than others. But in some constituencies, redemption rate is as high as 46 percent, giving hope that many people will have accessed the inputs as the month ends,” Chima said.
Senior Chief Chidzuma lamented the reduction in the number of beneficiaries from about 91 000 to 63 249 this year, calling on government to consider raising the numbers.
“The good thing is fertiliser is available. We have fertiliser in the depots but we have two challenges.
“Firstly, the numbers of beneficiaries have been reduced. We would have loved if we had more added. Secondly, there are network glitches which affect the redeeming process. We also appeal to those responsible to fix this challenge,” he said
Chidzuma added there are some confusions in some cases where names of beneficiaries appear in a wrong constituency hence the household cannot redeem the inputs.
“We brought this issue to the attention of authorities. We were promised that they will work on it. Nevertheless, we are thankful to government for this programme,” he said.
Chairperson for Chakhala Village Development Committee in the area of Senior Chief Njombwa under Lisasazi Extension Planning Area (EPA), mike Mdambo echoed Njombwa’s sentiments on the need to work on the names that appear in wrong constituencies.
A beneficiary under Chulu EPA, Elina Banda expressed gratitude to government for ensuring early availability of fertilisers, saying accessing inputs in good time contributes to yielding good harvest.
At least 1.1 million households are expected to benefit from this year’s AIP funded to the tune of K161 billion.
