By Stanley Nkhondoyachapa

Lilongwe, May 13, Mana: Ministry of Transport and Public Works on Monday launched its Strategic Plan, a key guiding document for the operations and functions of the Ministry from the year 2023 to 2030.

Speaking at the launch which took place at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jacob Hara, said the Strategic Plan will provide direction the transport and building sectors are going to take for the next seven years.

He noted that the plan is an operational reference book to which all departments, agencies and sections are to be aligned to.

“We have several strategic documents such as the 20-year National Transport Master Plan (NTMP), the five-year Comprehensive Medium-Term Implementation Framework (CMTIF) with our two policies along with three overarching policies on transport, construction and building, yet the operations of the ministry must be guided by a strategic document that others can use to keep us accountable,” he said.

He described the Strategic Plan as a critical document that steers the ministry towards the achievement of the long term goals of the sector as laid out in the Malawi 2063 and the National Transport Master Plan.

He, therefore, called upon heads of departments, ministries and agencies, development partners and non-state actors to put their effort behind the implementation of the Strategic Plan.

Chairperson for Transport and Public Works Committee in Parliament, Enock Phale, was excited with the launch hoping it will lead to fixing the broken public transport system and restore it to its former glory.

“We used to have a vibrant public road, rail, air and water transport systems in this country, but soon after former President, Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda things have not been good, so this strategic plan gives us hope,” he said.

The launch was attended by several high ranking officials from Central East African Railways (CEAR), National Construction Industry Council (NCIC) and National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA), among others.

By Martin Chiwanda

Machinga, May 13, Mana: Chairperson for Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources, Werani Chilenga, says the country is making tremendous progress towards achieving 50 percent electricity access for its population by 2030.

Chilenga made the sentiments in Machinga when the committee appreciated Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP) works at Lazalo in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chamba in the district.

He said, with government’s initiatives such as MAREP to connect most people to the electricity grid, the committee is convinced that by 2030, the 50 percent access to electricity will be achieved.

“The current government and its leadership has taken a bold stand in making sure that the country’s population has access to electricity. The country is doing everything possible to ensure that almost every Malawian has access to electricity.

“This is evident in how MAREP 9 is being implemented in different areas in the country, which aims at bringing electricity to remote and underserved communities. The government has also been working on expanding the national grid and promoting renewable energy sources like solar power. This is very encouraging,” said Chilenga.

Reacting to Lazalo MAREP site, Chilenga said the committee was impressed with the works and advised other contractors doing the similar work to emulate the example.

“What I have seen is very commendable. The contractor has done it 100 percent perfect. We have visited some places in Chikwawa District but what we have seen here is outstanding. Communities here are even impressed with the good works the contractor is doing,” said Chilenga.

Chilenga, therefore, called upon communities to take care of the infrastructure and guard against vandalism.

He said the recent sitting of parliament passed a bill which, if the President assents to it, will guard against all sorts of vandalism, noting that in the current law there is no fine to any person found guilty of any vandalism crime.

“The new law will allow those committing such crimes to serve jail sentence without giving them an option of paying fine. This is a great milestone in as far as curbing this malpractice is concerned,” he said.

Austin Theu, Chief Energy Officer in the Ministry of Energy said MAREP 9 is targeting 430 sites across the country, pointing out that in Machinga alone, there were 11 sites under construction.

“We expect that once completed, at least over 200,000 households will be connected and there will be a boom in economic activities as you know that electricity is the heart of economic development of any country. As of now, access to electricity is at 26 percent,” Theu said.

Group Village Head Njete, whose area is going to benefit from the Lazalo electricity infrastructure, said his subjects will be economically empowered apart from accessing milling services within their locality.

“We travel long distance to pound our maize as the area hardly has access to electricity. We are happy that we are now better off. Youths in my area will be economically empowered as they will start different businesses like barber shops and welding,” said GVH Njete.

Ministry of Energy has been implementing MAREP with an aim of increasing access to electricity for the rural and peri-urban areas in an attempt to transform rural economies and reduce poverty amongst the rural masses and contribute to government’s agenda of poverty reduction.

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, May 13, Mana: Right Rev. Bishop for the Anglican of Southern Malawi, Alinafe Kalemba, on Sunday led members of St. Andrews Anglican Church, popularly known as Kachere Chigodi, in the opening of a K89 million newly built church whose construction started in 2018.

Speaking during the event at Kachere Township in Blantyre, Kalemba encouraged the Anglican faithful to take the church as a spiritual entity, symbol for heaven and Centre for stress relief.

He said churches need to agree and come together in order to bring solutions to problems and suffering people are going through.

“There are a lot of things that are distracting and causing harm to people. So, churches must be a place and Centre where people can easily find unity, harmony and peace as it is the purpose which God created the church for,” said Kalemba.

He, therefore, expressed gratitude over the new structure, saying the house should not be a business institution instead it has to be a house for everyone who wants to find the holy spirit, repent as well as receiving their needs from God.

Kalemba blessed the new altar by sprinkling holy water followed by Wardens and Chairperson of the organizing committee, Venerable Lymon Sonjo, together with John Bande, Member of Parliament for Blantyre City East, who was also the guest of honor, in blessing the church.

The litany for all saints was recited all over the church and a special prayer from the book of Chronicles 7:1 – 10, Mark 11:15 and John 4:23 marking the church a Holy building as all bishops offered incense to it.

Speaking earlier, Bande said construction of the church shows that the congregation is development conscious.

He said, apart from serving God the savior, the community were indirectly contributing towards government efforts in making sure that the country's infrastructure is of good quality.  

“I would like to encourage church members that this should just the beginning; the work of God starts from here as you plan to reach out to other people so that they can hear the word of God and also be blessed as they repent as well as receive the holy spirit,” said Bande.

Drama and music by Ndirande Anglican Voices, Chichiri Anglican Angels, Chigodi Praise Team were some of the activities that spiced up the event while singing recessional Hymn No. 294.    

By Innocent Chunga

Nkhotakota, May 13, Mana: Women's World Day of Prayer over the weekend donated assorted relief items to people affected by floods in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Nkhanga in Nkhotakota District.

Chairperson for the women's group in Nkhotakota, Esther Manda, said the support has come after observing that people who are in various camps, including Chikupweche, are accommodating survivors in TA Nkhanga who are in need of food and non-food items.

Manda said she will continue encouraging women to embrace the spirit of sharing regardless of religion in all times including disasters.

"As women from various churches, we have to compliment government's effort in what it is doing in the country. Thus, we are here to respond to government’s call to support people affected by the floods," said Manda.  

The women provided the support to three camps namely; Matiki, Dwangwa and Chikupweche after a plea for support from the District Commissioner.

One of the beneficiaries Malita Banda, 42, from Group Village Head Chikupweche thanked the women for the timely support.

She asked other well-wishers to come forward and support them.

"This support is timely and these women should receive blessings from God. The situation is not good in our areas as we are living in camps,” said Banda.

Nkhotakota District Council Spokesperson, Wongani Mkandawire, described the support as a blessing, saying it will help households that continue to feel the pain of the flash floods and rising water levels that hit the district.

"We would like applaud various partners and well-wishers for the commendable support rendered to us. However, we are still pleading to others to come forward and support survivors in the district," said Mkandawire.

Women's World Day of Player in Nkhotakota District donated assorted food and non-food items including maize flour, soya pieces, salt and soap worth K1.8 million to Chikupweche camp and other camps in the area of Senior Chief Kanyenda in the district.

By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, May 13, Mana: Minister of Health, Kumbidze Kandodo Chiponda, has asked nurses and midwives in the country to be disciplined and execute their duties professionally.  

Speaking in Mzuzu on Sunday when nurses and midwives in the country joined the world to celebrate International Nurse's Day, Chicponda said for Malawians to fully participate in various development activities they need to be healthy.

Chiponda said duties of nurses and midwives is not only to support the sick in hospitals but also supporting communities in embracing healthy living lifestyles.

"As nurses and midwives, you also have a duty to sensitize the community on various health issues, for instance good habits they should embrace to maintain a healthy living.

"As government, we will continue to provide resources for health workers so that your working environment is good. We are also planning to construct more houses for health workers," she said.

Chiponda assured nurses and midwives that government is working towards establishing bilateral agreements with other countries so that Malawi can export nurses and midwives.

She was, however, quick to point out that the process will not be complete overnight because the ministry has to ensure that conditions of work for those officers are good and beneficial to both the country and the said health workers.

President for National Organization of Nurses and Midwives of Malawi (NONM), Shout Simeza, said as health care professionals, they are committed towards helping government in achieving universal health coverage for all.

"As one way of helping achieve universal coverage for all, we are increasing activities fostering community health care provision so that those in communities easily access free health service without putting pressure on our health institutions.

"We are also working on reviewing curriculum for Diploma in Assistant Community Nursing and Midwifery so that we lean more on community health provision," he said.

While applauding government for giving a lion's share to the health sector in the 2024/2025 national budget, Simeza appealed that resource distribution in the ministry should reflect the situation on the ground by providing enough equipment and other resources for easy delivery of service by health workers.

During the celebration, 100 nurses and midwives were awarded certificates for emerging as best nurses while 30 nursing leaders were presented leadership certificates.

Best performing community nursing and midwifery assistants were also awarded bicycles to ease their mobility.

International Nurse's Day falls on May 12 every year and theme for this year was ‘Our Nurses Our Future: The Economic power of Care’.

By Moses Nyirenda

Lilongwe, May 12, Mana: Church of Nazarene New Mexico District Superintendent, Larry Lacher has advised 32 students who have graduated from Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa in Lilongwe to preach about holiness when they will be ministering in communities and parishes.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa 28^th graduation ceremony which was held on Saturday at Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa campus in Lilongwe, Area 25, and Lacher said the gospel about holiness would heal people from sin.

“Holiness purifies the heart and takes away all the damage that sin has done to person’s life, the gospel of holiness has the capacity to heal people completely inside and restore them to be the way God created them to be in the first place.

“We are coming to this world damaged because of the sin that has passed down to us in different ways and something has to heal that damage and I encourage newly graduated students to preach about holiness and that God can not only forgive us but can make us clean again,” Lacher said.

He also said students who have graduated in theology and ministry should demonstrate love, compassion and dignity as they will be preaching the gospel of God saying that people need to be treated with love, compassion and care in order for them to understand the word of God.

Lacher also said that the graduates should also maintain their good relationship with Jesus Christ if they are to fulfill their mission of preaching the gospel and bring people closer to God.

One of the students who have graduated with Certificate in Ministry, Stenard Mpandeni hailed Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa for providing them with theology and ministry education.

“We are very grateful to the college for grooming us, the skills and knowledge which we have gained will help us to serve the Lord better and grow our church,” he said.

Nazarene Theological College of Central Africa was established in 1992 after the Nazarene Schools of Africa South East Field merged.

The college is currently operating in different countries including; Malawi, Zambia, as well as Zimbabwe and it provides Christ-Centered Education in harmony with the values of the Church of Nazarene.