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Drug abuse continue unabated-clinician
By Vida Msiyo
Blantyre, August 5, Mana: Zomba Mental Hospital continues to receive many patients who abused drugs and substances such as cannabis and others, with the facility seeing no significant decrease in number of cases referred it.
Mental Health Clinician, Harry Kawiya of Zomba Mental Hospital told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday that the facility receives a lot of cases for treatment indicating a persistent issue among drug users.
Kawiya noted that while alcohol-related cases are lower, cannabis and multiple substance use remain prevalent and identified several factors contributing to the trend.
“Some patients are misdiagnosed with conditions like malaria especially those presenting convulsions and these are managed at district hospitals, but those exhibiting violent or aggressive behavior are referred to Zomba Mental Hospital,” he said.
He expressed concern over increased drug intake as one of the contributing factors to mental health.
“I don’t think there is a positive change in the drug use because a lot of young people are taking a combination of cough syrup and cannabis as the two are easily accessible,” he said.
Executive Director for Drug Fight Malawi, Nelson Baziwelo Zakeyu said Drug Fight Malawi is dedicated to preventing drug abuse through education, advocacy and community programmmes.
“Rising cases of drug and substance use in the country are worrisome for health, social, and economic growth. It is challenging to control drug use due to factors such as the magnitude of use, advocacy for cannabis cultivation and use and exposure to social media” he said.
Zakeyu said Drug Fight Malawi is making strides in the prevention and lobbied for policies that are meant to control irresponsible drug use.
“We have lobbied for a National Drug Control Policy and the government through the Ministry of Homeland Security is developing it. Once implemented it will address some of the hurdles we face.” He said.
He said lack of evidence-based information; issues surrounding cannabis legalization and myths create false impressions.
Zakeyu called on various partners to join forces in fighting drug usage among young people.
“There should be joint effort by all partners to ensure teenagers in particular avoid using drugs. Government also needs to scale up treatment and rehabilitation services in all district hospitals to reach more people,” he said
A 2023 report shows that 335 people were sent for treatment at Zomba Mental Hospital for using cannabis, 124 people for using multiple substance and 22 people developed strange behavior for high consumption of alcohol, according to Zomba Mental Hospital.
Association calls for action over land issue
By Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, August 5, Mana: Biwi Triangle Light Industries Association has asked Lilongwe City Council (LCC) and Ministry of Lands to take action over a land issue in which it complains that Petroda Malawi Limited encroached part of Biwi Triangle Industrial site in Lilongwe.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday, Biwi Triangle Light Industries Association Chairperson, Malani Gondwe said the encroached land which is now fenced behind Petroda filling station at Biwi Triangle was spared for extension of Biwi Triangle Industrial site.
“Petroda Malawi Limited encroached land that belongs to Biwi Triangle Industrial Site and this land was meant for the industrial site extension.
“Today, youths are repairing cars under trees and the industrial site does not have essential public services such as police, fire brigade, first aid clinic and public sanitary facilities because the Industrial site does not have space,” Gondwe said.
He said as an association they made effort in raising their concern to relevant authorities such as LCC, Ministry of Lands, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) as well as the Ombudsman but nothing has been done.
He also said they consulted Petroda Malawi Limited officials in Blantyre to discuss the land issue but this proved ineffective.
According to Gondwe with the effort made since 2021 they are now looking forward to the authorities to take action.
He further said that once the land is given back to them they intend to use it in coming up with developmental structures including a vocational Centre that would help youths attain various skills such as motor vehicle repairing and others.
When contacted Petroda Malawi Limited Operations Manager, Zeid Fayyad declined to comment on the issue while LCC spokesperson Tamara Chafunya said the Ministry of Lands is better placed handle the issue.
“The landlord of the Biwi Triangle and Petroda plot is the ministry of Lands, they are better placed to determine if indeed there is or if there is not any encroachment,” said Chafunya.
Ministry of Lands spokesperson, Enock Chingoni requested for time before commenting on the matter.
Minister commends effective Malaria interventions
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, August 5, Mana: Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandondo Chiponda has revealed that Malawi, through the Ministry of Health, is making significant strides in the effective management of Malaria in the country.
She made the remarks on Monday during the official commencement of a three-day Country Peer Learning workshop on Malaria Vaccine at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
The workshop has drawn participants from various nations keen on understanding Malawi's successful implementation of the Malaria Vaccine across all healthcare facilities in the country, with the support of UNICEF.
Chiponda emphasized that the introduction of the Malaria Vaccine has led to a tremendous reduction in Malaria cases, highlighting its efficacy in combating the disease among children.
‘We have really performed well as a nation in terms of plotting the Vaccine and also in the roll out campaign, as a country we have seen numerous children being vaccinated, an initiative which is remarkable’ said Chiponda
She reassured the Malawian population that the Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring the availability of not only Malaria Vaccines but also other essential vaccines in all healthcare facilities, thus realizing universal health coverage.
“My ministry will ensure that all health facilities across the country including in hard-to-reach areas have access to vaccine which remains government top priority” Chiponda said.
Nevertheless, she acknowledged that challenges such as natural disasters like cyclones and floods, as well as the evolving nature of mosquitoes, pose significant obstacles in the fight against Malaria and warrant thorough consideration.
Neema Kimambo, World Health Organization (WHO) representative to Malawi, commended the successful implementation of the Malaria Vaccine campaign in Malawi, noting the increased accessibility of vaccines for children.
Kimambo urged other African nations to follow Malawi's example in effectively rolling out the Malaria Vaccine campaign and encouraged participants to delve into addressing challenges faced during the pilot phase.
Furthermore, Kimambo reiterated WHO's unwavering support to the Malawian government in executing the Malaria Vaccine initiative across all healthcare facilities.
In his statement, United Nations International Emergency Fund (UNICEF) representative Shadreck Omo highlighted the continued collaborative efforts between the Organisation in ensuring the seamless supply chain of vaccines to remote areas and all health facilities in the country
He affirmed UNICEF's commitment to continuing support for the government in delivering quality healthcare services, achieving universal health coverage, and meeting the 2030 health aspirations.
Omo underscored the crucial effectiveness of the Malaria Vaccine in combatting Malaria among children in Malawi, emphasising the imperative for other African nations to consider the Malawi’s successful implementation of the vaccine.
Blantyre District holds World AIDS Candlelight Memorial
By Joseph Ligowe
Blantyre, August 5, Mana: Blantyre District, on Saturday held World Aids Candlelight Memorial at an event that took place at Kapeni Demonstration Primary School in the district, under the theme: ‘Let the communities lead by spreading love and showing solidarity in ending HIV and AIDS.’
Speaking during the event jointly organized by Blantyre city and district councils, guest of honour Deputy Mayor of Blantyre City Council, Isaac Jomo Osman said the day gives people an opportunity to honour those who died of HIV and Aids related illnesses.
“Our brothers, sisters, daughters and neighbors, on this day we have to inform each other on how to prevent this pandemic and stay healthy, in unity we can reduce the spread of HIV,” Osman said.
Osman encouraged people living with HIV, saying they are not alone because of different partners who come and ensure that there are no gaps in HIV/AIDS management in the communities.
He hailed the organizers of the event for involving councilors in the fight against the pandemic, observing they are the ones who face and respond to community concerns.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), Executive Director for Malawi Network of People Living with HIV, Lawrence Khonyongwa said it is important as a country to recognize the importance of implementing HIV and AIDS programmes.
“It is very important as a country to ensure that we reduce the number of HIV new infections and make sure that people living with HIV and AIDS are living a healthy life.
“We also want to thank government for the provision of free ARVs,” he said.
Khonyongwa said other districts should take Blantyre as an example in leading and working hand in hand with different partners to reduce HIV and AIDS so that by the end of 2030 HIV and AIDS should be history in Malawi.
VP attends ZEC General Secretary's induction
By Abel Ikiloni
Blantyre, August 4, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi on Sunday attended the induction of Rev. Robert Yanduya as the General Secretary for Zambezi Evangelical Church (ZEC) at Mitsidi in Blantyre.
The Vice President read the scriptures from the book of John 9:1-7.
In his remarks, Usi said people were supposed to be in a hurry when attending to religious matters, saying God deserves plenty of time because he is the creator of everything on earth.
"It is not humbleness if leaders are in church but rather God himself is the one who humbled himself by descending during the service,” he said.
He blamed some unpatriotic Malawians who do not love their country or the country's leadership by just criticizing everything yet they don't offer any solutions to challenges beseeching the nation.
"Let's love our President and our country," he encouraged. "Who sinned between Chakwera and Malawians? But Jesus answered in the bible clearly.
"If you are a Christian or a Moslem be like your identity because politics is about management," he said.
On his part, the newly appointed ZEC General Secretary, Rev. Yanduya, expressed happiness by accepting God's word and assured church members that he will be dedicated to his work in uplifting the gospel.
"I will work with the synod management so that together we should take many lives to God," Yanduya said.
ZEC Mitsidi Synod Chairperson, Rev. Robert Mambeya, commended the Vice President for accepting their invitation to the ceremony.
ZEC came to Malawi through an Australian, Rev. Joseph Booth in 1892.
Securing people with albinism
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, August 4, Mana: Before the birth of his third and fourth born children namely Nicholas and Maria respectively, John Mwale, 46 from Group Village Head (GVH) Mandala in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Muzikuola in Mzimba used to be a successful farmer in his home village of Mjojo in Mzimba South.
‘‘I have been a farmer and a successful businessman before. I would grow and harvest hundreds of bags of maize some of which I sold for my personal needs at home. I had livestock such as goats and pigs. These made my family’s life easier. Everyone in my family was happy,’’ he recalled.
Mwale says things are no longer the same now.
In his own words, things in his life and family turned upside down in 2022 because of the resurgence in attacks of persons living with albinism.
‘‘My wife and I have four kids. The first one is Samuel seconded by Anita. These two were born without albinism. The birth of my third child, Nicholas and fourth born daughter Maria, who were born with albinism changed our life as a family as it marked the turn of uncertainty due to news of attacks on persons with albinism that were taking place in other parts of the country in 2022,’’ he said.
Mwale said whenever he would listen to the radios on how people with albinism were being butchered and mutilated elsewhere in the country, he would always shiver with fear and uncertainty, thinking about the safety and future of his two young children born with albinism.
‘‘I love all my kids. So when rampant attacks on persons with albinism heightened in the country in 2022, I started fearing for the safety of Nicholas and Maria. This made me stop my business of selling maize and I slowed down on farming activities to take care of my kids by providing security to them,’’ he said.
That was the starting point for Mwale to start escorting his kid Nicholas to school at Kaulankhutu Primary School located at Mapanjira, a distance of 2 kilometres from Mjojo village.
Mwale added with the incessant attacks that took hold in the country, he could not risk allowing his 10-year-old standard 3 son go alone to school or in the company of his fellow kids.
‘‘I could not trust anyone with my son’s safety. Although in my village nobody was attacked but I lost trust with anyone more so with strangers. So, since the attacks I stopped going to the maize fields and running various businesses as I used to do and this has had a toll on my life as a farmer as well as a businessman,’’ he said.
The harvest from the labour of his wife alone could not sufficient to support his family of six.
Before the attacks, things had been going on well that Mwale even had built a four bedroomed iron corrugated house.
But since his farming activities had suddenly grounded to a halt.
He never completed his house to the standard he wanted.
‘‘Several things had remained undone to the house like plaster and some of the house’s windows are not fixed and even some of the doors were not fixed. Yet this posed a threat to the lives of my kids as I feared thugs will come breaking such doors in the hunt f my kids with albinism,’’ the farmer said.
Mwale’s fears are not without basis.
The murder of a Kasungu based three-year-old girl with albinism, Talandira Chirwa who was hacked on the neck by unidentified assailants was an example of how far the attackers can go in their gruesome hunt for blood and bones from people living with albinism.
Talandira was stabbed on the neck and had her arms chopped off on November 30, 2022 at 11 pm while sleeping on the same bed with her grandmother and their house was not well secured that’s the reason the thugs made their way into it.
People with albinism in the country have faced grave human rights abuses such as abductions, killings and mutilations of body parts on the assumptions that their body parts have magical powers.
To ensure people living with albinism are well secured, President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera four years ago pledged to construct houses for them so that people like Nicholas and Maria live in secure and safe houses.
On Wednesday this week, there were jubilations and ululations in Mjojo village in Mzimba as Minister of Lands and Housing Deus Gumba presided over the handover ceremony of a magnificent house to the family of Nicholas and Maria, fulfilling a commitment made by president Chakwera four years ago.
The house is one of the 47 completed houses out of 69 so far constructed.
‘‘The handover of this house to the family of Mr Mwale fulfils what President’s promise upon getting into government that he would be constructing houses for people living with albinism to give them dignity and security,’’ he said as he handed the house’s keys to Mr Mwale, the father to Nicholas and Maria.
He said upon getting into government, Chakwera felt compelled to provide better housing for the people living with albinism because they had been neglected in terms of security provision by other regimes and house provision was one way of securing their homes.
‘‘For the past 26 years, people living with albinism were living in traumatic conditions. They were being haunted and discriminated but when the president came into power he directed that people with albinism should be protected.
“To that extent, he directed his Ministry to start constructing houses for them. We have been constructing the houses in consultation with Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare and now we are handing them over to the families,’’ Gumba said.
“This is a show of commitment by the President to address accommodation challenges faced by the people living with albinism and enhance their safety and security,” he added.
The Minister said government was committed to ensuring that people living with albinism are secured by ensuring that more houses in all districts are provided to them.
‘‘Government has allocated K600 million in this financial year which will be used to construct 15 more houses for people with albinism,’’ he disclosed.
Minister of Gender Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza has since asked the Ministry of Lands to fast track the construction of houses for the people with albinism by cutting out some lengthy processes that are contributing to delays in construction and completion of houses.
‘‘These houses are supposed to be constructed in all districts and 67 have been completed. There are a lot of people with albinism who need houses so there is need to expedite the construction process by cutting out some of the procurement processes which are slowing down the work,’’ she said.
National Coordinator for the Association of Persons with albinism in Malawi (APAM), Maynard Zakaria has applauded the government for constructing 67 decent houses for its members, saying the houses would provide a shield to people living with albinism against potential attackers.
He said government should cut the red tape that was delaying construction and completion of more houses on time.
‘‘Government releases funds for the housing construction but through lengthy processes of accessing the funds, it happens that the funds are not utilised within the financial year. We lose out as the money cannot be used when the financial year has come to an end,” Zakaria added.
Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and social welfare Nertha Semphere Mgala appealed for collaboration in protecting people living with albinism.
She called on community members and organizations to join efforts with the government in providing a secure environment for people living with albinism to enjoy their rights to life.
‘‘We lobby Members of Parliament to consider constructing houses in their constituencies for people living with albinism using the Constituency Development Fund. This will help in ensuring more people living with albinism have decent houses,’’ Mgala suggested.
After the house was handed over to them, Mwale and his two children Nicholas and Maria, aged 10 and five respectively, could not hide their excitement.
Mwale thanked government for the construction of the magnificent house, saying as a subsistent farmer he could not have built such a house singlehandedly.
The house is fixed with metal doors to ensure total protection and it has toilets within its fence.
‘‘This house will provide conducive environment to my kids and I ask government to continue constructing such houses to more people living with albinism,’’ Mwale said.
In a separate interview, Nicholas said living in a well-built house has given him a sense of security around him.
‘‘My ambition in life is to become a teacher that’s why I work hard in school. I just hope I will achieve my dream,’’ said Nicholas who also thanked his father for escorting him to school.
‘‘If my father was not willing to escort me to school and I would have dropped out as the school is far away and you would never know who would be hiding in the bushes to pounce on you,’’ he said.
SPS's hope for macroeconomic stability
By Priscilla Phiri
Lilongwe, August 4, Mana: World Bank reveals that the country’s Social Protection System (SPS) is a strategic tool for macroeconomic stability.
This follows a launch of World Bank’s 19th edition of the Malawi Economic Monitor (MEM) recently in Lilongwe, under the theme ‘Reforming with urgency: Malawi’s path to economic stability.’
Presenting on a special topic of the MEM edition, titled ‘Investing in adaptive safety nets,’ World Bank’s Social Protection Specialist and co author of the report, Chipo Msowoya said there was rigorous evidence that Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in the country has shifted from consumption to investment among the beneficiaries.
“SCTP has grown to become an investment by moving the needle around ownership of livestock and other small assets and allowing poor and vulnerable households to start investing in education, access to health for their households creating a path way that puts the future generation on a different trajectory compared to that of their parents,” he elaborated.
Msowoya from the report highlighted further on how the system has debunked the generalized idea that social protection systems create a dependency syndrome among its beneficiaries.
He said that the system has created a demand in digital services through E-payment that has enabled government to create financial inclusion among the beneficiaries.
“Government has transitioned from disbursing cash physically to electronic payments for both social cash transfer and public works wages through mobile money platforms and other traditional banking innovations which have prevented cases of fraud, speeded up the payments and allowed people that were excluded to become part of the financial sector,
Currently as it stands Malawi scaled up to delivering its social protection benefits across 10 districts allowing 440 households to use digital payments,” he said
He mentioned that the country has been one of the trail blazers in the world in bridging the nexus between Social Protection and disaster risk financing by leveraging on insurance systems to respond to common risks that the country faces especially drought.
World Bank’s Country Director for Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, Nathan Belete commended government and partners on the achievements made through social protection system.
“Social protection and adaptive safety nets not only provide an immediate response for the poor and vulnerable but it stimulates the economy more broadly as well as support the vulnerable households,
We wish for the progress to continue to be strengthened, improved and that government extends the coverage of the programme to more people that deserve and need to be part of the programme,” he said.
Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza said Social Cash Transfer was the way to go for the country to recover from its economic crises.
“In as much as the country is making progress with this programme there is still need for government to work together with its partners to effectively help the vulnerable communities,” she noted.
Malawi Economic Monitor provides a semi-annual analysis of Malawi’s economic and structural development issues.
Farmers getting returns
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, August 4, Mana: In the Serene Village of Maonga in Sub-Traditional Authority (STA) Mlenga in Thyolo District, farmers under Msuwadzi Catchment are quietly revolutionizing sustainable farming through agronomics and sustainable land management.
One family of Gyson Chipangula, who have been in farming since 1980 is proving that sustainability and prosperity can indeed go hand in glove.
Amidst their flourishing tree woodlot and a vibrant tea field, the Chipangula’s have not only practiced environmental conservation but turned fish farming into a lifeline for their family.
“My family has three fish ponds and our annual harvest stands at 360 kgs of fish, sold at K5, 000 per kilogramme translating into K1.8 million per year.
“This money has enabled us to buy settlement land, build a decent home and pay for our children’s education,” Chipangula said.
Apart from the economic gains, the family says through planting trees and tea, they have been able to reduce water run-off which causes siltation and gully erosion in their fields; thereby, conserving the environment.
Jenipher Chibani, who is into dairy farming shares a similar story of the Chipangulas, saying she was getting triple rewards from the venture by getting milk for sale, manure for her maize field as well as increased yields due to manure application from her two dairy cattle.
“My household is no longer the same since I started dairy farming in 2013. The cows give me 25 litres per day which I sell at K380 per litre bringing K285, 000 per month,” she claimed.
Chibani boasted that, “Moreover, the manure from the Cows have helped me a lot in increasing crop yield. So, you can see that I’m making money from milk and harvesting more because of using manure from the same cows.”
He added that even the nutritional status of her family members has improved, as they are able to eat balanced diet meals since she has the money and maize to allow her that luxury.
Additionally, other farmers from 13 villages under Msuwadzi Catchment are practicing sustainable land management activities where they are planting vertices grass, making stone bunds, constructing contour marker ridges, ridge alignment and gully reclamation, among others.
Land Resource Conservation Officer for Thyolo District Council, Madalitso Uledi said all the benefits that Chipangula and Chibani are waxing lyrical about are some of the positives that come with the adoption of Integrated Catchment Conservation and Management (ICM) both at individual household and catchment levels.
“Sustainable land management activities and well managed crop, livestock and fish farming are interlinked, supporting ecological resilience and food security,” she stated.
“Sustainable land management enhances soil fertility and water availability which helps to have adequate water for fish farming, crop production and more feed for animals.”
“In the same manner, crop, livestock and fish farming provide food and materials which enhance soil fertility and climate resilience; hence, the need for farmers to adopt these agricultural practices,” she explained.
Blantyre Agriculture Development Division (ADD) Chief Land Resource Conservation Officer, Medson Thole noted that adoption of interventions to conserve the environment enhance availability of water in the soil making it easy for all sorts of farming to thrive.
“We are talking of interventions and technologies like planting trees in upper catchment, constructing marker ridges to control erosion, manure making, gully reclamation and agronomics.
“In the long run, farmers start to harvest more yield for the whole catchment as these help to restore the land, enhance soil moisture as well as increase soil fertility,” he said.
Bearing in mind that land is a very scarce commodity in Thyolo, Thole feels that integrated catchment conservation and management provides a chance to farmers to restore the eroded soil since they do not have any other place to open up new farms.
Team Leader from Lujeri popularly known as Nchima Tea and Macademia Estates, Hannock Maluwa pointed out that promotion of ICM in the district was necessary in easing the pressure that people exert on natural resources owned by estates.
“If people are planting trees in their farms and along river banks, cases of people stealing logs of trees from forests belonging to estates will reduce,” he observed.
Maluwa added that, “Even encroachment on company land and opening up farms since their fields cannot longer be productive since the soil has been degraded will stop since soil fertility will be restored.”
Acting Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources for Thyolo District Council, Mphatso Kafuwa admitted that there are a number of things that have gone wrong with the environment; hence, scaling up good agricultural practices and interventions in all the Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) in the district.
“We want these modern agricultural methods to be done in the farmers’ fields, in the villages as well as in the mountains where gullies need to be reclaimed,” he emphasized.
“We will tirelessly work with Agriculture Extension Development Coordinators (AEDCs) from all EPAs, chiefs, village natural resources committees and village agricultural committees to promote all these technologies across the district,” he stressed.
Kafuwa has aspired the Council where every household achieves food sufficiency and being able to even sell to others and earn tangible income just as the Chipangulas and Chibani are doing.
“We want to reach a point where all the degraded land has been restored; all the gullies have been reclaimed and our forests are back to how they used to be several years back,” he said with a trace of hope loaded in his voice.
Honey providing farmers a lifeline
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, August 4, Mana: When Blasco Nkhata, 51, of John Chumia Village in Traditional Authority (TA) Kabunduli in Nkhata Bay decided to call it time on his borehole drilling business in 2012 in Salima, he decided to go back home to occupy the house that had been left idle by his late parents.
“I was owning Mazi Drilling Company and was based in Salima. But when the machinery worn out and I had no funds to continue running the business, I just decided to relocate to my home village.
“My relocation was partly because my parents had all passed on and the house was lying unoccupied in Nkhata Bay. I decided to come and occupy it,” he said.
Now back home, Nkhata had no readily available works to do to keep going hence having Movwe Forest Reserve just behind his house, the first thought that came to mind was venturing into the making business.
“I recall that back in the 1980s when I was doing my secondary school at Lwazi Malawi College of Distance of education (MCDE), some forests in the district suffered greatly at our merciless hands as we were into serious charcoal burning and selling. I paid my tuition using money made from burning charcoal and selling,” Nkhata reminisces.
So, when all the shove came to a push in pursuit of what to do to survive financially, the only business, he could think of was that of felling trees and making charcoal. But, just at a time, he thought of starting cutting trees for charcoal, something happened that changed his course of action.
Modern Cooking for Healthy Forests (MCFHF) came around the same time and introduced Bee keeping to some communities in Nkhatabay.
Nkhata and colleagues embraced the idea and formed Movya Beekeeping Club.
According to him, they thought about climate change-induced disasters and changes in weather patterns and that thought alone influenced his change of heart and they had to give beekeeping a chance.
This is how Movya Beekeeping Club was established.
“Having realised the consequences of deforestation on our everyday livelihood such as floods and unpredictable rainfall patterns, we decided to guard against charcoal burning. We thus opted for bee keeping and now we don’t regret,” Nkhata explained, a leader of Movwe Beekeeping Club which has 26 members.
The Club has 84 bee hives strewn across Movya forest reserve which covers 20 hectares of land.
Nkhata said as members of the club, they make sure Movya forest was being guarded against invasion by charcoal makers because their honey-making business would be pushed into oblivion if trees become extinct.
So far, since MCFHF came into the district, several bee keeping clubs have emerged and there is Makwezu Youth Club, Kaning’ina Bee keeping Club and Manolo Beekeeping Club in the area of TA Timbiri.
MCHF official, Wezzie Chisenga said Bee keeping provides a sustainable income source and incentivises forest protection and restoration.
All the clubs are working hard to protect forests from where they earn a living from the beehives they pegged in tree branches.
Manolo Bee keeping Club treasurer, Gertrude Chande explained the symbiotic relationship that exist between conserving trees and making money from honeybees.
“Bee keeping farming survives on having trees. Honey Bees feast on flowers found in some trees so we have to protect the trees if we have to sustain our livelihood we earn from beekeeping,” she said.
The benefits of raising honey Bees have been lifesaving.
According to Nkhata, most members of Movya Beekeeping Club have built houses and some have changed the roofs from grass thatched to iron sheets.
“The last harvesting season was in January and we sold honey worth K1.4 million. The same has been the trend in previous years and when we share the profits most members invest in sensible things like housing and starting small-scale businesses to keep them going,” he said.
Nkhata had to reroof his late parents’ house which he found in great ruins.
“It was all because of honey which we sale to traders across the country that it was possible I roofed the house with iron sheets,” he added.
Nkhata said they produce wax candles and mosquito repellents from the honey.
“Honey is serious and profitable business. Instead of desecrating our fast waning forests I would urge those still clinging to felling trees for a living to switch to beekeeping they won’t regret,” Nkhata, a father of two pointed out.
According to member of Makwezu Beekeeping Youth Club from TA Timbiri, Jacob Mhone, they sale the honey they harvest to Manolo Bee keeping Club and the proceeds have been used to sponsor most of its members in various secondary schools.
Bee keeping clubs earning an income from them do not just get preoccupied by fixing their Bee hives in trees in the forests and taking home bucketful of honey, no. The club members take care of the forests by planting trees. They guard it against invasion by charcoal burners.
One of the members of Manolo Bee keeping Club, Gertrude Chando said climate change has greatly affected the output of honey.
She said weather changes affect life of honeybees which tend to run away when it’s too cold or too hot.
“When it rains heavily as it did this year we were affected much as we did not manage to harvest the way our buyers want. Like in 2022, we harvested over 80 kgs but last year and this year it’s not promising due to weather as it has been too cold,” Chando noted.
District Senior Forest Officer (DFO) for Mzimba, Dorothy Shaba has appealed to farmers involved in Bee keeping to conserve trees in the forests.
Shaba said Bee keeping farming was dependent on trees on whose flowers bees feast and cutting down of trees could result in the total downfall of their enterprises.
“Once you cut down the trees the bees won’t be able to find flowers and your businesses will be affected. So you should conserve forests from where your business in beekeeping gets its life,” she warned.
Shaba said the integration of beekeeping with forest restoration efforts has created a win-win situation.
She said communities are motivated to protect forests as they directly benefit from the resources.
Nkhata concluded that, “I used to fell a lot of trees in the past to make charcoal enough to earn K30,000, these days from just three beehives where I harvest honey filling 20 litres, I make over K60,000 as we sale 1 litre at K3,000.”
Farmers in Balaka applaud MWASIP for restoring 10,000 hectares
By Andrew Phiri
Balaka, August 3, Mana: Farmers along the Shire River basin in Balaka District have expressed optimism that the adoption of land restoration and forest conservation practices under Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) would enable them realize increased agricultural yields.
Implemented by the Government of Malawi with support from the World Bank, MWASIP in Balaka aims at improving agricultural activities by restoring 10,334 hectares of degraded land along the Shire River areas starting from 2022 to 2026.
Speaking after touring different sites, MWASIP District Project Coordinator for Balaka, Lucreshia Matekenya, said the project has three main components; land restoration cover, watershed services and technical support to farmers.
Matekenya said since the start of implementation of MWASIP in 2022, farmers are able to practice modern conservational agriculture while others were getting financial grants that will enable them to venture into agribusinesses such as piggery, beekeeping and fish farming.
“Farmers are able to construct swales, box ridges and matching to increase water infiltration and also constructing stone bands to reduce the speed of running water; hence, reducing soil erosion.
“Apart from conservation agriculture, farmers have also embraced Farmers Field Schools (FFS); whereby, they are able to select a topic to discuss by identifying agricultural challenges, analyze it and find solutions,” she said.
Chairperson for Mtola Village Level Action Plan (VLAP) in Traditional Authority (TA) Nsamala, Andrew Galimoto, said they have constructed check dams, own forests and produce Mbeya manure, courtesy of MWASIP.
Galimoto said: “As you can see, this land is steep which means when rain comes all water runs down without proper infiltration. So, these swales and box ridges help to hold the water; hence, reducing soil erosion and increasing its fertility.”
Sani Sofiti from Mtendere VLAP under Mpilisi Extension Planning Area in TA Nsamala, hailed the project, saying they have restored natural forests and also constructed stone bands to reduce the speed of running water.
However, Sofiti cited limited membership as a challenge to their group since some people left the group because they had little knowledge on the long term benefits of this programme.
Balaka District Director of Agriculture, David Ali, commended the development, noting that farmers across the district have generally embraced the project.
He said adoption of land restoration and forest conservation practices will serve future generations of the district.
