By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, May 31, Mana: Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), Director General Daud Suleman has challenged the country's social influencers to be aware of the concept of changing times, digital developments and new laws governing their activities, if they are to maintain relevance.

MACRA in collaboration with Malawi Computer Emergency Response Team (mwCERT), on Thursday organized a day long "Get Safe Online" Ambassadors Training workshop in Salima for social media influencers and content creators on how to protect themselves while on social media platforms.

Suleman said creators should create content which was relevant, truthful and of impact to their market while at the same time creating a media space that the citizens have trust and confidence in.

"Time is changing, gone are the days when consumers had no knowledge of their rights, in this day and age there is a variety of content therefore if a social media influencer does not match with changing times they cannot stay relevant," he said.

The Director General expressed optimism that the country was heading in the right direction in terms of technological advancements such as infrastructure.

He was quick to mention that as a regulator they are working towards monetizing digital content to grow the country's digital economy.

"There are just a few things we are getting wrong, if we get those few things right then we will be able convince the big tech to pay us for our content," Suleman said.

He said although the country was disadvantaged by not being monetized yet, that should provide a strategic position for creators to build a strong foundation, growing their market while at the same time creating a media space that the citizens have trust and confidence in.

The Director General added that, "If you ask any social media influencer, the dream is to one day make big money through content monetization and this is possible. Unfortunately, this is an animal that has been so elusive within the local content creation equation as currently, Malawi is not among monetized countries."

One of the participants, singer and song writer, Shafie Phiri, professionally known as Driemo said the workshop was relevant and insightful because it assisted him to understand the 2016 Electric Transactions and Cyber Security Act and how he could apply it to safeguard himself online.

He decried how it has become a norm for some followers to bully social influencers online, and he therefore called for enforcement of the law.

"While we are not getting paid for our content online we are building strong foundations that will assist us to leverage on the future benefits we will be accruing from the internet, we appeal to MACRA to enhance on its collaboration with the police to protect artists," Phiri said.

He said its high time that artists started to benefit financially from their talent online, he therefore urged MACRA to fast tract all the necessary requirements for them to start benefiting from digital content.

Notable names present at the workshop included, musician Kell Kay, Charisma, Temwa and social media influencers, Ida Chabuka, Dorothy Shonga and media personality, Priscilla Kayira.

By George Bulombola

Mzuzu, May 30, Mana: Malawi Police Service (MPS) has asked Ministry of Lands to consider training Police in land management and administration, related policies and roles for them to ably enforce amended land laws.

The Appeal was made Thursday by in Mzuzu by Regional Commissioner of Police for the north, Richard Luhanga during a sensitization workshop for Police officers drawn from the north on amended land related laws and Land Information Management System (LIMS) which was organised by Ministry of Labour.

He said knowledge gained through the engagement can be sustained if land administration, management and laws are incorporated in the MPS curriculum.

“Therefore, there is need for the Ministry to train trainers of trainers who could in turn impart such knowledge to colleagues through various courses that we have within our training programmes,” Luhanga suggested.

The Commissioner added that Police officers are always overwhelmed with land related issues which he said are rampart across the country and lead to conflict, theft of land parcels and obtaining land by pretenses.

“We are the first respondents in dealing with these issues in both urban and rural settings. At times police have managed to handle the issues well, we have also handled them wrongly and even failing to give proper advice as we don’t have the knowledge on the same.

Police officers who don’t have the knowledge of land issues have been found themselves adjudicating on such matters. I therefore commend Ministry of Lands for organizing the workshop as the amended laws are about to be rolled out across the country,” he said.

 Luhanga said land Issues are so complicated and quite delicate especially in rural settings where they are intertwined with witchcraft and turn into death traps where people murder each other and property get destroyed due to lack of knowledge on land laws.

Director of Administration in the Ministry of Lands, Dr. Victor Sandikonda described the request from MPS as genuine and that the Ministry would consider it though resources could be a challenge.

“This workshop is very crucial as it provides an opportunity for the Ministry to update MPS on the implementation of the 2016 Land Laws and their respective amendments which were effected in 2022 Land Laws and the LIMS which has been developed under the country’s Land Reform Agenda,” he pointed out.

Sandikonda said that land remains a very vital factor of production in any country, hence it was the base of any meaningful-socio-economic development in all aspects and that customary land cases are emotive and need a sober approach whenever implementing any new policy or piece of legislation.

“If not well executed, land matters may breed chaos, public disorder and disintegrated customary land and administrative system, hence the need for law enforces such as Police to be knowledgeable of these laws,” he said.

By Sheminah Nkhoma

Lilongwe, May 30, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has hailed the support which United States of America (USA) provides to Malawi, through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), saying it has potential to transform the country.

MCC Compact II has given Malawi Government US$350 dollars for transport and land development.

Speaking during the launch of the compact, also known as the Malawi Transport and Land Compact, at Mzonde Ground in the area Senior Chief Kalolo in Lilongwe, Chakwera said the project will help transform and develop the nation.

He said government will ensure to have improved transport through the construction of roads to improve the country’s economy.

“These developments manifest how government is committed in improving the country’s infrastructure and livelihoods. We are dedicated to have a changed nation, all we want to see is that every Malawian should be able to provide for his or her family basic needs,” said Chakwera.

He said transformation of roads will make transportation of products easy helping farmers in the agriculture sector to transport their goods.

MCC Chief Executive Officer, Alice Albright, emphasized that the compact will transform the country’s transportation system, economy and development.

“This project will benefit more than 5.3 million Malawians. This comes because of the commitment which government of Malawi has demonstrated in boosting up the economy,” said Albright.

Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jacob Hara, appreciated President Chakwera for the commendable work his government is doing which has helped to gain trust from donor partners.

He said MCC Compact II projects aligns with Malawi 2063 whereby National Transport Master plan is one of the key agenda.

“MCC Compact II seeks to reduce travel time and costs for smallholder farmers through the improvement of targeted roads in selected transport corridors and the land administration seek to improve Malawi’s land governance institutions,” said Hara.

In 2018, Malawi Government successfully concluded implementation of the first compact from MCC on energy sector. This led Malawi to be chosen to develop a subsequent compact Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Malawi II.

The Transport and Land Compact comprises of three projects namely; Accelerated Growth Corridors, Increased Land Productivity, American Catalyst Facility for Development.

By Innocent Kachingwe

Blantyre, May 30, Mana: TikTok Sensation, Hanareen Doness has taken her influence beyond social media by heading an inspiring initiative called Mwana Phuli Phuli which aims at empowering young girls in rural communities of Blantyre.

Mwana Phuli Phuli, which literally means a girl child who is very good looking and intelligent focuses on supporting girls’ education by sending them back to school and providing essential learning materials.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Thursday in Blantyre, Doness said the project is driven by her passion for education and community development and that she hopes to expand her reach and help more girls return to school.

“Education is the key to a better future and I believe that through Mwana Phuli Phuli, I will ensure that girls in rural areas have the opportunity to learn and grow because every girl deserves the chance to go to school to pursue her dreams,” she said.

Doness added that despite the early success of the project, currently there was no funding for her activities.

She called on well-wishers and potential sponsors to join her cause as the initiative aims at breaking down barriers that prevent girls from accessing education.

“The response from the community has been overwhelming, however, in order to reach more children and make a significant impact, we need the support of the generous individuals and organizations,” Tik Tok Sensation said.

Doness disclosed that she was about to release a theme song for the project titled: ‘Ndikwanitsa’ meaning; I will achieve, which would be used to raise the project’s awareness leveraging her substantial social media following to gather support.

“Music is a powerful tool for spreading messages and I hope this song will resonate with people and inspire them to support this cause,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Glory Katsache, observed that before the support from the initiative, going to school was a daily struggle as her parents could not afford school fees and that she did not have the necessary educational materials.

She added that the initiative changed her situation and thanked management of Mwana Phuli Phuli for support, noting that the intervention is changing lives positively.

Katsache expressed hope that more girls would receive support from the initiative.

“This support means everything to me because now I have the school materials I need and I can attend classes without worrying about being sent home and I am so grateful because I can focus on my studies in order to make my dreams come true,” she said.

There are three students under the Mwana Phuli Phuli project who are being supported with school fees and as of now there is a campaign to raise K1.5 million to be used to help in the project.

By Tione Andsen

Lilongwe, May 30, Mana: Revenue assurance System (RAS) is now operational, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) has disclosed.

MACRA Director General, Daud Suleman disclosed this during a press briefing on RAS implementation at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe.

He said the project which started some two years ago has now come to effect after certain stakeholders branded it as spy machine.

The Director General said RAS was a crucial too for revenue assurance verification and fraud detection in the billing and taxation of operators’ services.

“This milestone could not have been achieved without the exemplary cooperation between MACRA, all operators, and other stakeholders involved in the project,” Suleman said.

He said the authority sincerely appreciates their dedication and looks forwards to enhancing our collaboration.

The Director General added that MACRA was requiring each operator to provide historical data for the financial fiscal year spanning from April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023.

Suleman pointed out that this data was crucial for their records and regulatory procedures.

“We are expecting to be fully provided by no latter than July 31, 2024,” he added.

Suleman said they are anticipating continued engagements and support to foster excellence within the digital ecosystem.

He appealed to any operator having problems with the initiative should not hesitate to engage them directly.   

A Lilongwe resident, Masa Phiri said the RAS should help to address the issue of call drops that mobile providers are facing.

“We are continuously being charged on call drops and the mobile e providers are not even refunding us or providing us with an apology on this matter,” he added.

By Shyra Nselema

Chiradzulu, May 30, Mana: A leading eye care organization in the country, Good Vision Malawi has announced its expansion plans to reach communities in Chiradzulu District suffering from eye conditions.

The Organization's Distribution Manager, Movan Chirwa made the announcement on Wednesday during a District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting in the district.

He said the expansion, which would commence in June, was expected to significantly improve the lives of the people in the district, especially those who struggle to access basic eye care services.

Chirwa observed that this development would benefit many people by cutting on transportation costs to hospitals and avoiding the need to visit expensive hospitals to buy spectacles.

"The organization will provide free eye testing and the cost of the glasses will range from K4, 000 to a maximum of K13, 000,” he said.

Chirwa said in addition to free eye testing and the sale of glasses, there would be an element of eye health education to sensitize the community on proper eye care practices.

Chiradzulu District Hospital Eye Specialist, Shalom Itimu said the arrival of Good Vision Malawi would greatly benefit people with eye problems especially the elderly and students who could not manage to buy glasses.

"A lot of eye patients faced challenges as they cannot afford to purchase prescribed glasses, leading to worsening conditions, so the coming of the organization will particularly benefit them," he said.

Itimu said the initiative would contribute to the country's development by enabling people to resume activities they had stopped due to issues of sight.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, May 30, Mana: Ministry of Education has said capacity building for teachers in leadership positions was essential in improving primary school performances.

Director for Teacher Education and Development in the Ministry Dr. Zizwa Msukuma said this on Wednesday after opening a 16th batch of Capacity Building for Primary School Teachers at Linde Hotel and Thope lodge in Mponela, Dowa and are drawn from Kasungu.

He said the Ministry decided to start undertaking the school leadership programme because it observed a gap in school leadership affairs which was negatively affect performance of schools.

"Most school leaders assume positions without undergoing any orientation to their positions and this has created some challenges which have negatively affected the learning outcomes of the schools. That is why the Ministry in conjunction with partners decided to mount the Malawi Education Reform Programme, specifically the school leadership programme.

"This aims to build and strengthen the capacity of our school leaders in primary schools by equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge and altitude which we feel will improve the quality of teaching and learning in our schools," Msukuma said.

He said since conducting trainings from the first batch, follow up exercises indicate there has been significant upgrade in teaching and learning in schools with leaders who have undergone the orientation.

"We believe these exercises will continue to play a pivotal role in improving education standards in primary schools," Msukuma added.

Team Leader of the School of Education and MIE Consortium that developed the training programme, Symon Chiziwa said the training has four key thematic areas.

"The first one is on building inclusive cultures in schools, motivating teachers and rewarding performers, utilizing and maintaining school records, and finally, mobilizing resources for the schools," he said.

The 10-day training is targeting Primary Education Advisors, Head Teachers, Deputies and Female Section Heads.

By Blackson Mkupatira

Chiradzulu, May 30, Mana:  Government has said courses being offered at Magomero Community Development College are crucial in fighting malnutrition and HIV/AIIDS in the country.

Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza said this Wednesday during the graduation ceremony of 185 students from Magomero Community Development College with diplomas and certificates in early childhood development, nutrition and home management, community development, social work, social protection, agro-food processing and adult education.

She said the courses are geared to train from frontline works who could assist the country ins fighting malnutrition and HIV/AIDS.

"This is in line with Pillar 5 of Malawi 2063 agenda, which is human capital development. The nation needs robust and strengthened social services delivery for all children and young people to access better services," Sendeza said.

The Minister appealed to the graduates to consider venturing into entrepreneurship and other small-scale businesses, saying the government alone cannot offer employment to all of them.

"Every year, we have new graduates from various universities in the country and the government cannot absorb them all into the civil service. This is why you have to start thinking outside the box.

"For example, by forming cooperatives to access the K59 billion which the government has set aside specifically for entrepreneurs who are into agro-processing or by writing proposals to access NEEF loans," Sendeza added.

She thanked the World Bank and the European Union (EU) for providing financial and technical support at the College and offering scholarships to about 107 of the graduating students.

Sendeza urged the graduates to make a difference in the communities they would be serving by strengthening early childhood development and nutrition, among others, saying the country was experiencing a problem of non-communicable nutrition-related diseases.

Principal for Magomero Community Development College, Thokozani Mtapa said the new graduates have the potential to help the country become self-reliant in many areas; thereby, contributing to the aspirations of the Malawi 2063.

"This is a skilled and vibrant workforce that we are releasing into the world. Apart from their normal courses, they have been equipped with skills in value-addition, business management and entrepreneurship which will enable them to start small-scale businesses and become independent financially," she said.

Senior Chief Nchema advised the graduates to work with traditional leaders in the communities they would be working to make meaningful impact in various areas of development.

President of the student Union at the College, Stanley Miliyasi said they are ready to serve and contribute to food security, community development and job creation in the country.

The 2024 graduation ceremony was held under the theme: "Strengthening nutrition and early childhood development to achieve children's full potential."