By Willy Kadewere

Chikwawa, May 25, Mana: Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) through 'Connect A School Project' will construct an Information Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory at  Nkhwangwa Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Chikwawa in a bid to improve education standards in rural areas,.

Speaking on Friday during a ground breaking ceremony, Finance Manager for MACRA, Limba Chapomba said the importance of the project in rural areas saying it would bridge the gap which has been there in terms of computer literacy between urban and rural learners.

"Unlike learners in urban areas who are progressing with the ICT, learners in rural areas have been denied access to ICT services due to unavailability of resources, as such the coming in of the project in rural areas will enhance ICT inclusiveness," he said.

"The project will help learners to acquire knowledge in computers at a tender age so that when they go to university, they should not have problems with computers," Chapomba added.

Member of Parliament for Chikwawa South, Ilyas Karim applauded MACRA for the initiative saying in a digital era, students must have access to ICT services in order to advance their skills in computer and research.

"We are living in a world of technology, having this kind of development is important to our community since students will have access to information through the ICT laboratory that MACRA is building in our area," he said.

Head Teacher for the School, Charles Kamanula has embraced the project saying it would enhance education standards the school as students would acquire information they want at any time from the laboratory.

One of the form 2 students, Caroline Malunga from Mangawa Village expressed gratitude with the coming of the laboratory saying it would help them to access right information from the ICT laboratory.

Meanwhile 75 schools are set to benefit from the first phase of the project across the country.

By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, May 25, Mana: Over 300 farmers under Kasangazi Irrigation Scheme in Traditional Authority (TA) Kampingo Sibande in Mzimba have expressed hope that they would not be affected much by food shortages caused by effects of El Nino induced floods and drought.  

The farmers expressed the sentiments on Friday during a visit to the scheme by Zambian High Commissioner to Malawi, Panji Kaunda.

In an interview, Chairperson for the Scheme, Chindongo Chirwa said as farmers they take irrigation farming seriously to escape hunger and make money.

 ‘‘We don’t depend on rain fed agriculture. We have Kasangazi Dam nearby, constructed with funding from the World Bank through the Malawi Drought Recovery and Resilience Project.

“There is water flowing all year round which we use to irrigate our crops in the fields. Irrigation farming enables us harvest twice a year so we don’t have to fear hunger here,’’ he said.

Chirwa said they cultivate maize, tomato, garlic, potatoes, cabbage and beans on 45 hectares of the 100 hectare available.

Kaunda urged the farmers to take irrigation farming seriously to escape hunger caused by erratic rainfall patterns due to climate change.

 ‘‘Both Malawi and Zambia have this year been hit hard by climate change elements which have resulted in poor rainfall and eventually affecting yields. I encourage you to continue irrigation farming for you and your families not to face hunger,’’ he said.

Kaunda, son to former Zambian President late Kenneth Kaunda said realising the critical role of farmers in contributing to food security, he decided to visit them to learn how they are harnessing the Kasangazi Dam to grow various crops.

He said issues of climate change should jostle farmers into venturing into irrigation farming as rainfall patterns have become so unpredictable to depend on rain fed agriculture.

One of the farmers, Timve Chunga from Kaipere Village under Group Village headman Mejere Sibande bemoaned rampant fall army worms which he said have affected part of the scheme.

‘‘We appeal to authorities to help us deal with fall army worms. We sometimes apply pesticides but they still do not work. Just recently we harvested over 300 bags, we would have harvested over 800 bags if it were not for these destructive army fall worms,’’ he said.

Chief Irrigation Officer for Mzimba, Silence Chirambo said farmers should seek support from the agriculture office on such emergencies.

He said by seeking advice from agriculture extension officers the farmers would be able to buy right pesticides used to fight off army fall worms.

By Leonard Masauli

Lilongwe, May 24, Mana: Government has been advised to using complex science to inform decisions and policies at all governance levels in the country.

The remarks have on the sidelines of a meeting at Capital Hotel in Lilongwe on Friday, aimed to build capacity to understand and use complex science in decision making in the country.

Speaking during the meeting, Head of Policy Unit at Malawi Wellcome Liverpool Programme, Dr Rhona Mijumbi said there are huge gaps in the utilization of science in decision making and policies because of low understanding of science research and hence making decisions which have benefitted from science without the science.

“We feel there are significant challenges when decision makers are interacting with complex science in the country, and they affect some decisions that would have been made and the interaction today will help to improve on certain decisions.

“For instance, if the government can identify within its cadres, people who can be trained and communicate using science and be able to support policy makers, teachers, chiefs among others, can help bring a difference in the way decisions are made and add value as we move towards agenda 2063,” she said.

Mijumbi said science is done not only to benefit researchers but to improve people’s health and their well-being, so that it helps to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.

Deputy British High Commissioner and Development Director in Malawi, Olympia Wereko-Brobby said COVID-19 showed the importance of taking complex information and translating it to policymakers in a way that people could understand and hence the importance to use science in decision making.

“So, I think it's incredibly exciting. Malawi has a very strong, rich culture of research that we do more to work together with academics, policymakers and development partners to translate that into evidence-based policymaking.

“You will see more and more scientists going abroad and making names for themselves, but then also, more importantly, coming back here and making sure that their contribution to Malawi and its own development is noted,” she said.

A Medical Doctor in the Ministry of Health, Dr Collins Mitambo said there was huge gap between the researchers and the policy makers and hence what researchers produce mot of the times do not reach the policy makers.

“At times, policy makers look for research evidence for policy directions but they are very difficult to find. This is why through World Health Organization (WHO), we established a platform for interaction between a policy maker and a researcher so that policy makers can easily reach out for information they need from researchers,” he said.

By Memory Chatonda

Blantyre, May 25, Mana: Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) plans to construct state-of-the-art computer laboratories in 75 schools across the country to bridge the digital gap, as 6 million learners from government schools have no access to internet services.

MACRA’s Economic Regulations Manager, Linda Kambale said this on Friday during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Connect a School (CAS) project through the Universal Service Fund, at Zingwangwa Secondary School in Blantyre.

She said each laboratory would have a capacity of holding up to 60 computers.

Kambale said in the first phase, each laboratory would be provided with 20 computers and each school will be connected to the internet for three years.

"Previously, we have had ICT initiatives targeting rural masses, but these faced several shortcomings hence the adoption of this laboratory concept.

"In the first phase of this project, MACRA is constructing these laboratories in 75 schools, including 73 community day secondary schools, one national government secondary school, and one pilot primary school," she said.

According to Kambale, the project aligns perfectly with government's vision of providing students with the essential tools and skills needed to thrive in the digital era.

" This initiative does not only bridge the digital divide but fosters an inclusive and forward-thinking educational environment, thereby laying a robust foundation for Malawi's socio-economic growth and ensuring that no child is left behind in the digital era," she added.

Principal for Zingwangwa Secondary School, Steven Kungala expressed gratitude to MACRA for the timely and generous of the computer laboratory yet to be constructed at the school.

"The construction of this computer lab will enable our school to upgrade our makeshift computer lab thereby allowing students to have greater access to modern tools, resources, and opportunities that are essential in today's digital age," he said.

A representative of the students, Dudufye Chigombwa said she anticipates to use the internet to access information relevant to her studies and also explore various opportunities for career development.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Blantyre City South, Noel Lipipa hailed MACRA for the project saying he was excited to see the impact that the project would make to the school and communities at large.

He called for concerted efforts among the school authorities, communities, and students to properly manage the computer lab to ensure that it serves its intended purpose.

CAS project, the first of its kind in the country, will bring to life the National ICT Policy and align with the Malawi 2063, which is youth-centric and puts digitalization at the heart of the nation's transformation.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, May 24, Mana: Minister of local government, unity and culture, Richard Chimwendo Banda has said efforts government is putting in place to develop the education sector will be rendered unfruitful if students are not dedicated in their studies.

He made remarks on Friday at Mvera Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) when he presided over the ground breaking ceremony of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) lab being constructed at the school by the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA).

Making a heartfelt appeal, Chimwendo Banda said government is striving to provide quality education, with one of the efforts being the provision of the smart labs, but these can only bear fruit if students work hard.

"There are many stumbling blocks you may face like poverty, but poverty must not be an excuse. There is peer pressure, laziness, which may affect your studies. But you should know who you are and what you want to be, because where there is a will there is a way.

"We are all here for you and we are doing a lot like providing bursaries, infrastructure and teachers amongst other things to aid your studies. You can have all these, but if you do not work hard and have self-esteem, you cannot realize your dreams and all these efforts will go in vain," he said.

Chimwendo Banda added that this is a testimony that government is thinking of digitalization at another level.

"We hope our students will do well through research, learning new things, and developing their skills. And by also providing free internet to the community (at a 100 meters’ radius) will propel development," he said.

The minister then said this is another huge milestone for Mvera as it adds on the development of Mvera as an innovative city.

He said the project which seeks to construct 75 labs, 73 in CDSS's, one in a national secondary and another in a primary school, is also an achievement towards the creation of 1 million jobs for Malawians.

Director of Human Resources and Administration at MACRA Mary Botomani said there is a severe digital divide between rural and urban setups.

She said over 6,000 learners in both public primary and secondary schools do not have access to the internet, observing this is alarming.

"That is why we decided to come up with this intervention which at least seeks to bridge that gap. Apart from that it will also equip our young ones with digital skills they need to strive in this 21st century.

"All in all this complements governments agenda of transforming Malawi into a digitalized nation, and empowering the youth technologically as pillars for national development," she said.

She then asked the contractor to deliver a topnotch structure.

This is the third CDSS to benefit from MACRA`s construction the labs in Dowa after Mponela and Kabwinja.

The labs are being constructed under MACRA's Universal Service Fund.

By Pempho Nkhoma

Blantyre, May 24, Mana: Malawi Red Cross Society (MRCS) on Friday launched flag week at division level in Blantyre aimed at embarking on fundraising activities by its volunteers in different areas in the district.

MRCS Blantyre Division’ Chairperson, Engineer, Geoffrey Francis Magwede said MRCS volunteers will be moving in various places like schools, markets and churches to fundraise a target of K10 million funds

Magwede disclosed that during the flag week Blantyre Division target to raise K10 million and at national level the MRCS expects to raise K160 million.

President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera launched the flag week at national level in Lilongwe under the theme; ‘Keeping Humanity Alive.’

Blantyre District Commissioner, Alex Mdooko commended the MRCS for providing humanitarian assistance in the district in various ways in time of disasters as was the case during Tropical Cyclone Freddy, saying the MRCS was the first to arrive on the scene for the response.

“When the district was affected by the Tropical Cyclone Freddy, MRCS was the first organization that came to our rescue,” he said.

The District Commissioner therefore encouraged people in Blantyre to support the MRCS during the flag week