MANAonline
Joy as head teacher gets decent house
By Stevie Chirombo
Dedza, May 9, Mana: For Jonathan Maluwa, teaching is not just a profession; it is rather a passion which has since turned into a lifestyle.
He has been in the teaching profession for the last 10 years, and Kamtambo Primary School in the area of Traditional Authority Chilikumwendo in Dedza has been his home for all those years.
Maluwa is one of the longest serving teachers at the school, having joined over a decade ago.
For all the years he has been teaching, Maluwa has touched lives of thousands of children that have passed through the school.
However, despite his hard work, dedication and passion, he still had to walk a distance of around five kilometres to and from school, Monday to Friday on scorching heat or during rainy seasons solemnly because the school had no house to accommodate him.
Kamtambo Primary School has an enrollment of 890 pupils, 10 teachers and three classrooms.
This he says affects the delivery of quality education.
But what has kept Maluwa going even without a proper house at the school?
“I love teaching as a profession and I also love to contribute to the development of children, so even though the school had no house for the head teacher, I was walking a long distance to and from school. I was braving the cold weather, rains even the burning sun to come to the school.
"Being a head teacher, I was supposed to be living close by the institution but that was not the case. So it made my work very difficult to handle. Sometimes I was the last one to arrive at the school when in essence I am the one supposed to arrive at the school before everyone else," he said.
Maluwa said there is some kind of satisfaction that he gets from knowing that he is giving a foundation for many children to grow into useful and responsible adults.
Now, the news is totally different for Maluwa as, just a stone throw away from where the school is, a modern teacher’s house has been built with standard toilet, kitchen and electrical wiring, ready for connection to solar electricity.
There is also running water.
The house, standard kitchen and latrine have been constructed under the World Bank’s funded project, Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD), to a tune of K59.2 million.
Maluwa is now the first person to arrive at the school and the last person to leave the campus.
"The construction of the teacher’s house has allowed a standard eight teacher to come and live within the school campus. This is a great development because now he will be managing morning and evening classes. This will give the learners an advantage to do well during their final examinations," he stated.
Maluwa however, said one house only is not enough since the school has ten teachers who stay in far areas. He therefore appealed to government and well-wishers for the construction of additional teacher houses.
"There is high need for more teachers’ houses to be constructed at the school to cater for all the ten teachers in order to improve the standards of education at the school,” he said.
The news of the construction of the teacher's house at Kamtambo Primary School has equally excited the surrounding communities.
The school committee chairperson, Madalitso Khovani, has since hailed the development.
"It is pathetic that the school that opened its doors decades ago could be operating without teachers’ houses. No wonder, performance of our children has not been good. However, we are now optimistic that with this kind of development, we will start seeing improvements," he explained.
Traditional Authority Chilikumwendo acknowledged the challenges that were there in the absence of the head teacher’s house.
"It was difficult to get hold of the head teacher, especially during weekends because he was staying far from the institution. When we needed his services during the weekends, it means we had to wait for the following Monday. But now the coming in of the teacher’s house is going to improve things," said the chief.
Member of Parliament for the area, Ouzious Chidobvu, said the improved accommodation in rural primary schools will lure more teachers wanting to teach even in the remotest areas.
"When teachers are coming to school from far areas, they arrive at the school tired and this affects their performance, but having the teachers’ houses at the campus will change that. Teachers will now be able to focus on teaching rather than thinking of the distance they cover to and from school every day," he explained.
Director of Planning and Development for Dedza District Council, Macpherson Mwakhwawa, said most of the projects the council implemented in the 2023/24 financial year have been completed and are being used by the communities.
He said the development is commendable to the council, as it translates to improved service delivery to the communities.
“Some were constructed under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), some under the District Development Fund (DDF) while some projects such as this one were constructed under the World Bank’s funded project, GESD.
“So, all these infrastructures are meant to enhance service delivery in the targeted communities. And with their completion now and them being used by the communities, this will alleviate the problems that were being faced in terms of service delivery and improve the livelihoods of the people in the district,” said Mwakhwawa.
He added that when teachers are provided with a conducive environment for their stay at a workplace, the expectation is on improved service delivery in terms of teaching the learners hence improving the outcome.
“We have the District Development Plan (DDP), and it is our goal that we should be able to implement it in line with the expectations and the aspirations of the communities we are meant to serve in Dedza District,” he said.
Rehabilitated community ground gives hope to Mchinji football
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, May 9, Mana: The rehabilitated Mchinji Community Ground has rejuvenated hope for Mchinji football development, as it has brought in a proper arena for football.
Decorated with a new VIP stand, standard grass pitch, change rooms, a proper perimeter fence and ablution blocks, the ground gives football enthusiasts hope that it can be home to football development in the district.
Eliya Phiri, coach for a local team Kanalero Football Club, said having a proper football field in the district is a plus for football advancement.
“The rehabilitation gives us a big opportunity, especially on the pitch which now has grass; this will reduce injuries. There is also a chance that established teams from elite leagues can come and play here, and this will motivate the young players who will learn a few things,” said Phiri.
He urged the authorities to take care of the pitch and make sure it is always green.
District Sports Officer Martin Panyanja echoed Phiri’s sentiments, saying the facility meets the standards and will be used perfectly to expose talent and developing talent in the district.
He however put emphasis on revenue collection.
“There is a potential that we have met some of the required standards and this gives us a chance to have big matches in the district. This will boost revenue collection as a council and hope to have more revenue collected,” said Panyanja.
Mchinji Council Chairperson Dorothy Musa said she was optimistic that football will be advanced in the district.
“Currently, the ground has all the relevant facilities a football ground must have. We believe hidden talent will be unearthed,” said Musa.
Commenting earlier when he toured the ground, Ministry of Sports Infrastructure Development Officer, McMillan Mwale, said he was pleased the council had heeded the suggestions given throughout the rehabilitation.
“I am glad that the football ground has all the necessary facilities as per our advice. The structure now has the standard facilities,” said Mwale.
The rehabilitation of the community ground was done through two funding windows in performance-based grants (PBG) under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and District Development Fund (DDF).
The ground, which will benefit thousands of football-loving people, used funds from GESD for the construction of VIP stands, upgrading the pitch, and installing solar-powered water tanks.
YASD to promote Green Skills to counter Climate Change
By Leonard Masauli
Lilongwe, May 9, Mana: Youth Action for Success and Development (YASD) has embarked on promoting green solutions through the Local Green Innovations Champions Project (LOGIC) to empower and train youths and women in green skills to break their socio-economic barriers in society and respond to the climate crisis.
Speaking in an interview, Executive Director of the organization, Edward Msiska said the project which is being implemented in Dedza and Lilongwe focuses on green skills.
Among other objectives, it aims at equipping youths and women with the knowledge to engage in sustainable grassroots green businesses to combat climate change.
"Climate change has impacted the economic sector and further increased the vulnerability of women and youths in terms of economic empowerment. This project will therefore equip the youths and women so that they can gain practical experience in running green businesses," he said.
According to Msiska, the project also includes elements of advocacy and climate literacy, adding besides learning skills for green businesses, women and youths will also acquire leadership and advocacy skills to address issues that matter to them.
He observed that the project will address recycling issues, considering the challenges Malawi faces in waste management.
“Currently, the four cities in Malawi accumulate about 100 tonnes of waste, necessitating innovative approaches to waste management.
"For instance, YASD will recycle waste into wealth, with young people producing compost manure, creating tumblers from glass bottles, making fire briquettes from agricultural residues, and crafting notice boards from waste papers, among other initiatives," he said.
District Youth Officer for Lilongwe City Council, Wezi Kamanga commended YASD for its initiatives, saying it will empower young people to realize their economic potential.
The LOGIC project operates in Traditional Chitukula and Tsabango in Lilongwe, and Kamenyagwaza and Kachindamoto in Dedza district. It targets 160 youths, comprising 30 percent males and 70 percent females, and is supported by IM Swedish Development Partners with funding amounting to MK88 million.
CADECOM rescues 574 households in Nkhotakota from food insecurity
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, May 9, Mana: At least 574 households who were at risk of being affected by hunger in Nkhotakota district have received support from the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) under the state of emergency response initiative.
Speaking when addressing Nkhotakota District Executive Committee (DEC) members on Wednesday on the project report, CADECOM Lilongwe archdiocese Programmes Coordinator, Charles Matewere said the initiative was implemented following the declaration by State President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera of a state of national disaster in 23 out of the 28 districts of the country.
Matewere said the money amounting to MK100,000 was given to targeted beneficiaries to cushion them from hunger as many of them did not harvest enough due to adverse weather conditions which included drought and floods.
"As a Catholic organization, we thought it wise to secure funds and help these people based on Unified Beneficiary Registry (UBR) assessment. We are looking forward to monitoring the situation in various communities where we have helped these beneficiaries to make sure that they use the money for the intended purpose" said Matewere.
He further commended the district council for enhancing good coordination when operating the initiative to make certain it is effective for all.
District Disaster and Risk Management Officer for Nkhotakota District Council, George Zibophe said as a council they are grateful for the continued effort being made to bring aid and hope to the affected families.
CADECOM implemented the cash transfer project with funding from a Scottish organization Scareful through the episcopal conference of Malawi.
Embassy of Iceland, Council commits tech support to KKBSP
By Innocent Chunga
Nkhotakota, May 9, Mana: The Government of Iceland through its embassy in Lilongwe has committed to continue providing technical support to contractors involved in the multi-billion Kwacha Nkhotakota Basic Services Program (KKBSP) being implemented in the district.
Construction Lead for the embassy, Maggie Moyo said that technical support will assist contractors in producing high-quality works to be in line with the government's objective in the district.
She made the remarks after a technical meeting with contractors in eight primary schools where the construction of semi-detached houses, classrooms, administration offices, and toilets is taking place.
Officials from the embassy and Nkhotakota District Council visited all the eight sites where construction works are underway to monitor and appreciate progress.
Speaking in an interview after the visit, Moyo said the embassy and council officials have a role to play to ensure the works are up to standard,
"We have a role to monitor the contractors so that the works are in line with the government's commitment to delivering high-quality works” she said.
Moyo pledged the embassy`s commitment to continue providing support for the smooth implementation of the program.
Director of Creative Construction, Abdul Simoni who is constructing semi-detached houses, Classrooms, and an administration block at Dzikonilonse Primary School said the project is on schedule and expressed hope that it will be completed before 20 May, this year, as earlier planned.
"We are now at 95 percent in all facilities and we are using quality products from recommended suppliers to produce high-quality works aligned with the official's commitment,” said Simoni.
Another contractor, Cadworks Infrastructures who is constructing toilets at Msamala, Kacheyo, and Gomadzi primary schools said in some sites works have not yet started due to high water table, but said that will not affect the completion time once the works start.
Director of Education and Sports for Nkhotakota District, Godfrey Kubwense said he believes that once the projects are completed, they will improve education standards in the district.
The Nkhotakota Basic Services Program (KKBSP) is being supported with over MK11 billion to be pumped in various sectors which includes health and education. Among others.
Fisheries Department hailed localizing SSF guidelines
By Sellah Chunda
Lilongwe, May 8, Mana: Minister of Climate Change, Michael Usi said hailed the Department of Fisheries for tailoring Small-Scale Fisheries (SSF) guidelines to suit the country’s context.
He said this Wednesday during a High Level Multi- Stakeholder Dialogue on National Plan of Action for Small-Scale Fisheries at Bingu International Convention Centre BICC in Lilongwe.
Usi noted that the SSF guidelines have been formulated into a National Action Plan for Small-scale Fisheries.
He thanked Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and members of Parliamentary Committee on Natural Resources Committee for their support and joint efforts in organizing dialogues that have significantly influenced the development of small-scale fisheries plan.
Usi pointed out the pivotal role of research in informing business practices to ensure fish accessibility for all and voiced expectations for tangible outcomes from the dialogue to tackle challenges and foster cooperation among Malawians.
FAO Representative to Malawi, Dr. Zhujin Chen said the dialogues are significant for Malawi's food security, underlining the necessity for more action and guidelines to support individuals in the fisheries sector.
Senior Chief Makanjira of Salima underscored the significance of dialogue in confronting challenges such as fish scarcity, hardships endured by fishermen and boat operators.
He emphasized the necessity for autonomy, technology, guidelines, and strategies to bolster lake conservation efforts and enhance livelihoods.
A Promoter, Chimwemwe Chipala noted the importance of collective action among Malawians and fishermen to grasp the significance of fisheries conservation and sustainable practices.
He advocated for awareness regarding the repercussions of rising fish prices and the potential of innovative products like fish flour, sausages, and fish-based feeds to mitigate food insecurity.
The Anniversary celebration served as a platform for stakeholders to reflect on achievements, tackle challenges, and map out a sustainable trajectory for the country’s small-scale fisheries sector.
Sugar distributors and wholesalers warned
By Patience Longwe and Daniel Siame
Lilongwe, May 8, Mana: Ministry of Trade and Industry has issued a stern warning to distributors and wholesalers found engaging in price manipulation schemes in a bold move taken against unjust price practices in the sugar industry.
This action follows a comprehensive investigation revealing connivance between certain distributors and street vendors to inflate sugar prices unfairly, thereby burdening consumers across the country.
In an interview with the Malawi News Agency (Mana) Wednesday in Lilongwe, Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Ministry of Trade and Industry, Patrick Botha, underscored the government's commitment to ensuring fair market practices and protecting consumers from exploitation in the country.
"We are quite serious with this issue as Malawians have struggled to access sugar for the past few months as an essential commodity. Now that the situation is stabilizing, we cannot condone that some companies should hide behind the street vendors to maintain the status that almost led to a crisis," he said.
Botha added that if anyone found doing this malpractice, the Ministry would revoke their licenses.
PRO for Competition and Fair Trading Commission (CFTC), Innocent Helema said distributors and wholesalers found committing the offence, they are going to be fined a minimum sum of K 500,000, and attract a prison sentence of five years.
"As provided for under the Competition and Fair Trading Act, you may be aware that Parliament recently passed the Competition and Fair Trading Bill which when assented to will correct a lot of unfair and anticompetitive business conduct in the country," he pointed out.
Four nabbed for allegedly committing assorted offences
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, May 8, Mana: Police in Nkhata Bay have arrested four men for allegedly committing various offences in the district.
In an interview on Wednesday Spokesperson for Nkhata Bay Police, Kondwani James said the suspects were arrested during the night of May 7, 2024 through intelligence driven operation.
"One of the suspects Musamude Banda, 42 is alleged to have damaged various household items belonging to his relative at Mpamba.
" While Masautso Manda, 32 has been apprehended for obstructing Police Officers whilst on duty to the extent that he produced a Machete to restrain the officers from arresting Musamude Banda," he explained
James added that another suspect Symon Kamanga, 29, was found operating a bottle store beyond permitted hours at Mpamba Trading Centre while Moses Chikaonda, 23 was illegally found in possession of Indian hemp.
The suspects hail from various areas within Nkhata Bay District and will appear before court after completion of paperwork.
Gift of the Givers bails out flood survivors
By Jacob Nthozi
Nkhata Bay, May 8, Mana: Principal Administration Officer for Nkhata Bay District Council, Moses Jere Tuesday commended Gift of the Givers Foundation for donating to flood survivors in the district.
He was speaking when the Organization presented a donation of assorted items to 156 households who were affected by floods in the area of Traditional Authorities (TAs) Malanda, Fukamalaza and Mankhambira.
Jere described the donation as timely as the flood survivors lacked basic needs and the intervention was and answer to some of the problems which the disaster survivors were experiencing.
“Let me appeal to beneficiaries of this donation to utilize it prudently so they recover shocks following the floods. I request Gift of the Givers to always come to our rescue in times like these," he said.
Senior Group Village Head, Ngombo said the survivors lost everything to the raging floods, hence commended the Foundation for the assistance.
Social Welfare Officer for Gift of the Givers Foundation, Steven Phiri said the Foundation decided to support the flood survivors in response to reports about the disaster from Department of Disaster and Management Affairs.
He pledged that the organization would continue providing support affected people it could not reach out to all at once.
"Whenever support is available at our office we would like to come again to assist those people who have not benefited today,” Phiri said.
Over 127 households were affected by floods following week long heavy rains in April 2024 and 30 households are still at Chithowe Camp which is at Chithowe Primary School.
The donation included cooking oil, blankets, buckets, plastic sheets, soya pieces and water guard among others.
Lulu & Kelly Kay to perform at M1 Centre Point
By Petro Mkandawire
Blantyre, May 8, Mana; Musicians Kelly Kay and Lulu will entertain fun lovers at M1 Center Point in Lilongwe on Friday May 10, 2024 on the invitation of Thoms Park Event, Director, and Thomson Madulira.
Other artists to perform on the day include Mathumela band, and the Six Solid Band, according to Madulira.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) Tuesday, Thom Parks Event Director said that this is time for fun lovers to experience a hot combination of artists.
He said the M1 Center Point show will allow both old and new school music to entertain fans.
“Live music events provide a unique experience for attendees as they connect with the music. Let people come in their larger numbers to enjoy the vibrant music. This is their show” said Madulira.
In a separate interview, Lulu told Malawi News Agency that he was looking forward to sing at M1 Center Point.
“We are ready to entertain at M1 Centre Point, I know our fans have missed us that side, Fans should expect more music as is always the case,” said Lulu.
One of the music lovers Isaac Mandala said will make sure to be in Lilongwe on May 10 to dance to the music.
“Without music, life would be empty. Good music heal broken hearts. I am very ready to travel to Lilongwe to mix and relax.” said Mandala.
