MANAonline
MK29.6M Ntonda police unit excites Ntcheu communities
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, June 4, Mana: Communities of Traditional Authority (TA) Phambala and Sub-TA Tsikulamowa in Ntcheu District have hailed the construction of the Ntonda Police Unit saying it has tightened security in the two areas.
Vice Chairperson for the Phambala Area Development Committee (ADC) Lawrence Bamusi said previously, communities were taking the law into their own hands due to absence of a police unit.
“Despite having policing forums, cases of mob justice were rampant in the area owing to absence of the facility.
“Besides that, the communities were walking long distances in pursuit of justice once robbed of their property,” he said.
According to Bamusi, communities were relying on the Senzani police unit, Ntcheu and Balaka police station’s which are at a distance from the area whenever they want to report theft cases.
On her part, Group Village-Head Bayani an Induna for iNkosi Phambala said law and order is now prevailing unlike before when the area had no such a facility.
“Theft cases of livestock, crops and house break-ins were rampant but now they are decreasing due to the opening of the police unit,” she said.
Ntcheu Police Spokesperson, Jacob Khembo concurred with the community’s sentiments over security issues in the area.
“The police formation is always on high alert for any possible security threat to ensure the communities are living peacefully without theft disturbances,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ntcheu District Council Director of Planning and Development Obed Mwalughali said the facility is key to the development of the area hence the council prioritized the same to be constructed.
According to Mwalughali, the council has spent K29.6 million from the District Development Fund (DDF) pool to construct the Ntonda Police Unit.
2024 Korea-Africa summit officially opened
By Andrew Mkonda in Seoul, South Korea
Seoul, June 4, Mana: The first ever Korea-Africa Summit has started in Seoul in South Korea with a call for Korea and African countries to be committed in finding ways of expanding economic ties and cooperation in supply chain and development with the resource-rich countries.
Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol made the call on Tuesday during the official opening of the two-day summit currently underway.
Vice President Saulos Klaus Chilima is among Heads of State and Government, including business people, from across Africa with high expectation that the summit will increase various opportunities in trade, agriculture, and tourism, among others.
President Yoon said South Korea aims to expand trade and investment with Africa through a series of agreements, such as Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and Trade and Investment Promotion Frameworks (TIPFs).
He also vowed to support Africa's efforts towards regional economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in 2019.
"In terms of trade, we will speed up the signing of EPAs and TIPFs. On the investment front, we will expand investment protection agreements to promote exchanges between the two countries' companies," he said in his opening address.
The summit has drawn together 48 African countries such as Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Malawi, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Ivory Coast, Mauritius, Zimbabwe, Togo, Rwanda, Mozambique, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, among others.
The summit is being held under the theme, ‘The Future We Make Together: Shared Growth, Sustainability, and Solidarity’.
Chilima spearheads Malawi's interest at Korea-Africa Summit
By Andrew Mkonda
Seoul, Korea, June 3rd Mana: Vice President Saulos Chilima has appealed to organisations to consider assisting and working with Malawi to fight effects of climate change, arguing that global warming is a threat to food security.
Chilima made the call when he held talks with former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon ahead of the Korea-Africa Summit slated for Tuesday 4th June 2024.
Ki-Moon now heads the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an intergovernmental organisation supporting and promoting sustainable economic growth in developing countries currently with 48 member states.
In his response, Ki- moon said if Malawi joined GGGI as a member she stands to benefit support for social economic development.
“Addressing these climate change issues, we have experts, and we can even establish an office in Malawi to work with your government on green economy,” said Ki-Moon.
The Vice President is leading a hectic schedule at aimed at forging strategic partnerships and planning to present a compelling case to tap from financial deals on offer at the summit.
The summit kicks-off Tuesday and at stake is the multi-billion dollar offer to African countries through concessional loans amounting to USD 10 billion and USD 14 billon for Korean companies to expand their footprint into the African countries.
“We are looking at this as Korea-Malawi Summit. We have our own expectations. In the next few days we will be updating what we have managed to accomplish. We don’t take such summits for fun. These are intended to benefit the country,” said Chilima
Earlier, Chilima held several side meetings highlighting Malawi’s potential as a gateway to the Southern African Development Community market. He met South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon-hee.
The Vice President also addressed a High-Level Panel discussion on Forestry and Desertification hosted by the Korea Forest Service and the UN Convention on Desertification.
“Together, we can leverage on advanced technologies, share best practices and mobilize resources to combat deforestation and desertification effectively,” said Chilima
Chilima also attended the Welcome Dinner for Heads of State and Heads of Delegations hosted by President Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee.
The Vice President's schedule reflects the summit's theme, "Partnership for Progress," and demonstrates Africa's determination to strengthen ties with Korea and enhance global cooperation.
Clock Tower Mall exhibition attracts local visual artists
By Vida Msiyo
Blantyre, June 3, Mana: Ashley Furniture Home Store at Clock Tower Mall in Blantyre Saturday brought together best of Malawian creativity and home design in an exhibition showcasing stunning artworks in a bid to highlighting the store's commitment to support local talent.
Ashley Furniture, Head of Marketing, Laura Chisale told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that Clock Tower Mall exhibition was meant to promote Malawian art by bringing a collection of unique brands.
“We believe in working with the community, Ashley is not only based in the United States but we are in the country to help promote Malawian brands. We collaborate with artists to give them exposure, and we believe in bringing brands together,” she said.
The exhibition featured products of Ashley furniture in form of sofa and dining sets, beds plus, kitchen utensils while other exhibitors brought visual art works in form of paintings, herbal body lotion among others.
“Our aim is to work with and support artists in the country” Ashley Furniture, Head of Marketing added and assured customers that home accessories sold at Clock Tower Mall are affordable and of high quality.
“Malawians don’t have to worry because all items sold at the mall are affordable and are of high quality. Right now, we have a 30% discount on all accessories while stocks last. Prices vary and Malawians can buy, “Chisale added.
Visual Artist, Gilbert Mpakule who is President of Visual Arts Association of Malawi hailed Ashley Furniture Home Store for organizing the exhibition, saying it provided opportunity for the artists to showcase their artistic skills.
“It is very important to promote our art. We artists spend a lot of time creating, so I ask Malawians and everyone to support us just like Ashley has done. It is not ideal to import artworks when we have talented artists here in Malawi,” he said.
Other visual artists who participated at the Clock Tower Mall exhibition included; Chiso Lifa Arts, Tee Mlinga, and Maxwell Banda who displayed various artworks ranging from detailed drawings to colorful paintings to impress patrons that have a taste of visual art.
Sanwecka ready to conduct trainings
By Innocent Kachingwe
Blantyre, June 3, Mana: Sanwecka Tech Companions is set to resume its trainings this week in the three major cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu in a bid to equip the youth with vocational and practical skills.
Sanwecka Tech Companions offers different courses which include phone repairing, Information and Communication Technology and computer use, computer repairing, dish installation, video production and graphic designing.
According to the company registration of participants is now in progress.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Monday in Lilongwe, Sanwecka Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rasheed Kasito said the registration process was going on well as 70 people have already registered in Blantyre and phone repairing being the most registered course.
“Of course, the figure might go up since there are others that just reserved their places and they will finalise their registration when they come to Blantyre because they stay in far places,” he said.
Kasito added that apart from Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu, Sanwecka operates in other districts through remote trainings with an aim of reaching the people in those remote areas.
He said new packages have been introduced whereby they are offering three months long trainings and after the trainings they would provide business incubation for another one year on top of start-up tools, where students will be under Sanwecka's supervision on how they could establish and start their businesses.
“On top of that the trainees will have access to funding whereby they can get the loan at FDH Bank using the Technical Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) partnership that we have in place,” the CEO added.
Kasito said the trainings contribute to youth empowerment as they start business and create job opportunities for others; hence, generating income to support themselves and their families.
“To ensure that this is achieved we make sure that we provide entrepreneurship workshops on how they can earn income; secondly, we drill them in marketing on how they can connect with their customers to build long term relationships,” he said.
One of the Sanwecka training beneficiaries, Matthews Shaba commended Sanwecka for the initiative, saying they have really provided him with practical skills.
He encouraged those that have nothing to do to register with Sanwecka.
“I was trained by Sanwecka for six weeks and this has been the best thing I have done as I am already making earning an income through my business of phone repairing,” Shaba said.
Teachers sensitize on GBV
By Rennie Tembo
Lilongwe, June 3, Mana; Lilongwe Police is to implement 'Safe School' programme to sensitize students on school related Gender Based Violence (GBV) and other human rights issues.
Speaking on Saturday during an orientation organized by Lilongwe Police, Community Policing Coordinator, Frank Kaila said the aim of the programme was to create a safe environment for child education and to help teachers on how to handle cases related to GBV.
The programme has come as a preventative measure after receiving a lot of cases from the month of January to May.
"In the past, we have been training schools based on structure including community policing structures on the programme but now we would like to orient teachers since they are the ones who receive the cases first hand and this will help them in dealing with such cases in a way that it will not affect the learners’ performance in class," he said.
As a way of encouraging the learners to express themselves, complaint boxes have been introduced in schools.
"We have decided to introduce complaint boxes in schools for students to easily lodge their complains through these boxes, as a way of making sure that there is no one threatening them or shutting them from expressing themselves," Kaila said.
He urged teachers to pay attention to learners conduct in class both physically and psychologically for them to easily notice changes and act accordingly.
Principal Education Advisor for Boma Zone, Caroline Chiwayula expressed satisfaction as she described the meeting as a good development as it has equiped them with information and skills that teachers were missing in handling abuse cases.
"There are alot of abuses that learners face in the hands of teachers and their fellow learners and some of the cases are very hard to handle but this orientation has enlightened us on how to handle our learners who are passing through different forms of abuse," she said.
Chiwayula complained that abuse was not only faced by learners but teachers are abused by some learners.
"Let it be known that we face different forms of abuse from learners more especially those under the influence of drug and substance abuse. We face abuse from other parents who use their position in the society, which affects our work negatively," she concluded.
The programme will be implemented in 11 primary schools in Lilongwe district.
Two nabbed for theft
By Margret Kalua
Nkhata Bay, June 3, Mana: Police in Nkhata Bay are keeping in custody two men for stealing a water pumping 250 Watts solar panel worth over K500,000.00 at a construction site of Police houses at Nkhata Bay Boma.
Confirming the development in an interview on Monday, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Nkhata Bay Police Station, Kondwani James said the suspects, Ibrahim Somanje, 33 and Shaibu Mhone, 25 committed the offence in the evening of May 30, 2024.
"On the said day, it was alleged that Somanje and Shaibu took advantage of a few minutes’ absence of a security guard from the cite.
They were then found at Nkhata Bay Boma on May 31 selling the panel at a suspicious price and this prompted a prospective buyer to tip the police," he said.
James added Police quickly followed and arrested the suspets and panel was recovered after which they were charged with theft.
Both Somanje and Mhone who both hails from Singo Village in the area of Senior Chief Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay are expected to appear in court soon.
Plight of street connected mothers and children
BY Memory Khutuliwa
Blantyre, June 3, Mana: Blantyre District Social Welfare Office has said limited access to health care, homelessness; poverty and family breakdown are major factors that drive mothers and children into streets in the cities and other urban areas.
Blantyre District Social Welfare Officer, Ireen Lakuzala said this in relation with increased street connected mothers and children amidst current cold weather condition and other social challenges in the city.
She observed that street connected mothers were exposed to various life challenges such as social rejection and the mothers were mostly victims of sexual crimes.
“We are implementing various interventions to address these challenges that street connected mothers and children face. One of the interventions is to unite or reintegrating them to their families,” she said.
Child Rights Activist, Amosi Chibwana said mothers who were born from street connected parents end up in the street where they face numerous challenges.
He observed that poverty, family breakdown, single parenthood are common factors leading to the influx of mothers and children on the city streets.
Chibwana added that children from street connected parents are deprived of their rights to education, health and right to play thereby affecting child growth, care, development and survival.
“Children who grow in the streets with their parents or sent by their parents to beg in the street lose their intellectual; social and emotion touch with their homes and community,” he said.
The Child Rights Activist said it becomes a challenge for foster parents, child care and reformatory facility to manage children who are raised in the street after moral decay takes up the course.
“Children who are raised in the streets are unable to access education because of the stereotypes and negative perceptions that the society has on them,” he said.
Chibwana disclosed that activists continue to advocate for the rights of children including street connected children for their social welfare, protection and justice on top of encouraging the children to go to care institutions for their best care.
“It is important that laws should be enforced on parents whose children are on the streets but this must do because the very same parents are required to provide care and support to their children,” he said.
Chibwana said reintegration, relocation and all interventions to tackle mothers and children street connectivity should be done in the best interest of the child as provided by the law.
He called on communities to put mechanism that should take full responsibility to raise children in their communities to become reliable citizens other than creating situations that could compel mothers and children to go into streets.
One of the street connected mothers in Limbe, Blantyre, and Matilda Jafali said she lives with her two children in the street because her husband left her when she was pregnant for her second born child.
“I left home when I was five months old pregnant for my second born child. My husband lied to me that he was going to look for greener pasture in Mozambique and I waited for moths until one day his friend told me that my husband married another wife,” she said.
Jafali added that the rejection put more suffering onto her and the two children such that she could not help it but to go way.
“I failed to feed my first child and to feed myself, I was in extremely poverty and had no peace of land to cultivate, I had no house and this is why am here,” the street connected mother added.
Jafali has four kids, two were born in the streets after a man raped after disguising himself as Good Samaritan who could offer her startup capital for business while another man came in to promise her marriage.
Blame game on teen pregnancies
By Emily M’mangisa
Zomba, June 3, Mana: School Authorities at Matiti Primary School in Zomba Urban are puzzled at the rate of teen pregnancies at the school.
The school registered nine pregnancies this year and it has sent wrong signal to the development of education among girl child.
Matiti School, Deputy Head Teacher, Yahaya Samson said the school was surprised to register nine pregnancies among standard seven learners such that four girls are out of school in teen marriages.
“The pregnancies are going at a worrisome rate. We are talking of nine pregnancies this year alone which was not the case last year with four cases recorded,” he said.
Samson added that Matiti School was leading in Songani Education Zone and the Deputy Head Teacher put the blame on parents, saying learners go wayward at home after classes.
A parent of a standard seven learners, Faith Katoma accused teachers of complacency in handling the learners on the human and academic aspect.
She accused teachers of focusing on academics only and completely turning blind eye to the social being of pupils.
Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairperson, Clement Manyamba acknowledged the challenge, adding that poor supervision of wards was the major contributing factor to the current state of affairs.
“Learners seem to be on free range system both at home. Parents are more occupied in personal matters than education of their kids but I can assure you, change is inevitable,” he added
Matiti Primary School has an enrollment of 2,940 learners comprising of 1,457 boys and 1,483 girls with teacher learner ratio of 1:46
Chief Education Officer at Education Office in Zomba, Medson Mbilizi admitted that pregnancy rate at Matiti Primary School was worrisome and said the situation need some collective intervention.
He said his office was putting everything in order to tame the situation before it comes a crisis.
Songani Zone comprises 12 primary schools including Matiti, Mwanje, Namitonso Chikupira, Mpungulira, Songani, Naming’azi, and Mtondo among others.
Good Vision to distribute 12,000 eye glasses
By Wellington Sibale
Neno, June 3, Mana: Good Vision Malawi, a sister organization to One Dollar Glasses has targeted to distribute 12,000 glasses to needy people with visual challenges in the country.
Good Vision National Distribution Manager, Movan Chirwa disclosed this Sunday in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on the sidelines of a District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting in Neno.
He said as one way of addressing visual challenges in the country, they have launched a campaign on good vision and they target to reach out to students or learners and teachers who have visual challenges.
Chirwa said Neno has been targeted because it has been affected by climate change; hence, high numbers of eye-related issues as well.
"We plan to reach out to over 12,000 needy people with glasses in the country and Neno is inclusive,” he revealed.
Chirwa said early interventions to vision problems could save the sight of students, teachers and community members.
"We have a schools' programme in central and northern region and plans are underway to bring it to the southern region. Glasses are solutions for all despite the beliefs and early interventions could save the sight of people," the Manager said.
He added that the organization is ready to collaborate with stakeholders to achieve their intended goals and community members will be paying a small fee of K4, 000 each for a pair of spectacles.
Clinical Officer for Eye Care services at Neno District Hospital, Tizyo Kumwenda said Good Vision glasses would allow vulnerable people to access them at affordable prices compared to those found in optical shops.
"Good Vision will be in the district providing eye care services especially in hard to reach areas to the vulnerable people who cannot afford the glasses on their own because of financial issues,” he said.
Kumwenda noted that the coming of Good Vision to the district, several activities would be carried out including awareness and sensitization campaigns to all health centres within the district where people will be enlightened with knowledge about eye care and how to get the glasses.
Good Vision Malawi, soon to be Good Vision International operating in eight countries in Africa and South America with the aim of providing basic eye care services for all people at affordable prices.
