MANAonline
Delay in completion of girls’ hostel affecting girl’s education
By Levison Lester
Lilongwe, May 7, Mana: Head-girl at Nsaru Secondary School in Lilongwe Natasha Maoza has said the delay in completion of girls’ hostel which started over 13 years ago at the school is negatively affecting their Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) performance.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), Maoza said studying becomes a challenge since most of the girls stay far away from school and they walk long distances to go to school.
She said, the delay has not only affected their studies but also their safety is always at risk.
“We are facing number of challenges due to the delays to complete the hostel. Many girls have left school because they have been impregnated. Secondly, for the past years many girls have been performing badly MSCE and Junior Certificate of Education (JCE). So our future is being ruined by the delays,” Maoza said.
“The construction started long time ago and the hostel is at standstill, nothing is happening on the ground. My worry is that if the hostel is not completed, many girls will continue to be denied right to education. I am urging government to complete the hostel because if the delay continues, then we will continue to be excluded,” She added.
Commenting on the matter, Head-teacher at Nsaru Secondary School, Bambiro Hadley Kumwenda said the construction of the hostel is at standstill because the government said the hostel is not in a modern state hence there is a need to construct a new hostel.
He added that the construction of new hostel was supposed to start in 2020 but up to now, the construction works have not yet commenced.
“As I am talking to you right now, there is nothing on the ground. The old hostel was abandoned due to what they say it was the issue of poor standards. The new hostel was supposed to be a jointly constructed by Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Malawi government. But currently we have learnt that JICA has its standards and the government is proposing different standards. So the delay is a result of misunderstanding between the government and JICA,” Kumwenda said.
Member of Parliament for Lilongwe North Constituency, Monica Chang'anamuno confirmed the development but said the delay was a result of poor foundation of the hostel.
"The hostel that started 10 years ago did not have the right foundation. It was a threat to the lives of the girls. That's why the hostel can not be completed," She said.
Meanwhile, Chang'anamuno has said the plans to construct a new hostel are underway, and once resources are available the hostel will be constructed.
MEC engages electoral stakeholders in Nkhotakota
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, May 7, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on Monday took its awareness meetings to Nkhotakota District where it challenged electoral stakeholders to be champions of driving towards peaceful, fair, and credible elections next year.
The meeting aimed at sensitizing electoral stakeholders on the new electoral laws, constituency and ward boundaries, and electoral calendar, among others.
MEC Regional Operation Commissioner for the North, Deverson Makwete, said that for the country to achieve fair and credible elections free of post-election chaos, stakeholders must be at the forefront in advocating for that.
"As a Commission, we are very happy with the patronage today and we hope that the message which they have acquired here will be used to advance MEC's aspirations to have a fair and credible election next year," Makwete said.
He further disclosed that the Commission is migrating from the previous National Registration Bureau (NRB) system to a new system called Election Management Device (EMD) which will be used in many electoral processes, including voter registration.
"This device is going to be used for different purposes. Apart from voter registration, the device will also be used for voter verification and transmission of results from polling stations to constituency, district, and main tally Centre," he said.
Nkhotakota District Council Director of Administration, Victor Chithabwa, commended MEC for organizing the meeting, saying it has enlightened stakeholders on their roles and responsibilities in pre-election, during election and post-election stages.
"We are grateful that MEC decided to have this session in Nkhotakota District, as you might be aware that elections involve several stages and stakeholders. I'm sure that these individuals will take the message to their respective areas," Chithabwa said.
In his remarks, Traditional Authority Mwansambo in Nkhotakota said that chiefs will engage their villagers to ensure that they understand everything about elections.
"I will encourage my fellow chiefs to be proactive in advocating for peaceful elections next year, starting from this year, because election is a process which begins months before the exact voting day," Mwansambo said.
The meeting drew together representatives of all political parties, religious leaders, chiefs, and Civil Society Organizations, among others.
MEC is expected to roll out the voter registration process from September to December 2024 ahead of the September 2025 general elections.
Education Ministry donates bicycles worth K4.5m in Thyolo
By Beni Bamusi
Thyolo, May 7, Mana: In an attempt to ease mobility of teachers in hard to reach areas in Thyolo, Ministry of Education, through Malawi Education Reform Programme (MERP), has donated 20 push bicycles worth K4.5 million to 20 schools to improve female teachers’ mobility in the remote parts of the district.
Speaking when handing over the bicycles on Monday at Thyolo District Education Offices, District Commissioner Hudson Kuphanga said the initiative shows that government attach greater importance to girl child education and welfare of teachers in the remotest parts of the country.
“This will ease mobility among mentor teachers considering that the terrain in Thyolo is challenging. Teachers in the rural areas will now find it easy to take a greater role in girl child education,” he added.
Kuphanga noted that Thyolo has higher levels of child labour that need some intervention to save children from the exploitation.
“Thyolo has got high levels of child labour because of tea estates hence the need to work with commitment to take the girl child back to school. We should have more girls educated in Thyolo and this is a good starting point,” said Kuphanga.
A mentor teacher, Tiyanjane Kangadeya from Bwalidzo Primary School, said the bicycles will ease mobility among teachers that are required to visit girls in their localities.
She pledged to use the bicycle for intended purposes, adding she will ensure to inspire girls at her school and surrounding areas to aim higher to realise their dream goals of becoming productive citizens in various professions other than ending up working as casual labourers in tea estates.
Among other things, MERP is increasing the hardship allowance of teachers and improving distribution of female teachers in remote schools.
Newly amended electoral laws for credible elections
By Evance Chisiano
Blantyre, May 7, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission says the newly amended electoral laws will ensure law and order in the electoral process towards aspired free and credible general election.
Commissioner responsible for media and civic education, Francis Kasaira made the remarks in Blantyre during stakeholder’s awareness meeting on Monday.
“The laws are meant to provide order in the field of play for all contesters. The amended laws will ensure credible elections which should be accepted by all electoral stakeholders,” Kasaira said as he responded to questions from the stakeholders that sought clarifications on the amended electoral laws.
Stakeholders among them chiefs, party, youth, civil society organizations, faith leaders discussed amended electoral laws, electoral calendar, constituencies boundaries among others,
“You have a big role to play in the 2025 general elections,” Kasaira said and called on those that attended the awareness meeting to further disseminate information about the amended electoral laws to their subjects to ensure they are aware of what the law says about the elections.
District Commissioner for Blantyre, Alex Mdooko called on political parties to follow proper procedures before holding campaign meetings.
He observed that some campaigners bypass office of the District Commissioners and the police when holding campaign meetings, adding that “this is not procedurals as this create conflicts in case another campaigner book the same venue,”
Mdooko therefore called on political parties to be cooperative with his office to ensure order during the campaign meetings.
“Electoral stakeholders have roles and responsibilities to ensure that elections are violence free. Some stakeholders forget their roles and responsibilities and in the end the DC is left alone to deal with electoral conflicts,” the District Commissioner added and assured MEC that the council will work diligently to ensure smooth electoral process.
He also called on party representative to instill sense of responsibility and patriotism among the youth whom he said are mostly exploited to cause chaos during campaign meetings.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) District Governor for Blantyre Rural, Peter Bell commended MEC for organizing the stakeholder’s awareness saying the meeting provided great opportunity for the stakeholders to get reliable information on electoral issues ahead of the 2025 general elections.
Communities commend health post renovation, staff houses
By: Steve Chirombo
Dedza, May 7, Mana: Communities under Traditional Authority Kamenyagwaza in Dedza district have commended the renovation works of Chimkombero health post as well as construction of two healthcare staff houses saying the development will improve health service delivery in the area.
In an interview during a monitoring visit on Monday, Group Village Headman Chimkombero said his subjects have been walking long distances to access medical treatment.
“We thank government for supporting us with these development initiatives. The other nearest hospitals are at Bembeke which is a distance of about 28 kilometers or at Dedza district hospital which is even far and these developments works will help us to easily access medical treatment,” said GVH Chimkombero
He added that once complete and operational, communities will be asked to jealously guard the facility so that it stays longer while providing them with healthcare services.
He called on the authorities to quickly consider opening the facility.
Commenting on the development, a community health worker, Linos Dausi, said, meanwhile some patients are being referred to Bembeke and Dedza district hospital and that once Chimkombero health post becomes operational, more people will access health services nearby.
He also pointed out that the two staff houses that have been constructed will help healthcare workers to live close to the facility and attend to patients without difficulties.
On his part, Dedza district council, Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Macpherson Mwakhwawa, said the infrastructural development such as Chimkombero health post, are meant to enhance service delivery in the targeted communities.
“As the facility has been completed and now to be used by the communities, this means that we have alleviated problems that were being faced in terms of service delivery and at the same time, improving the livelihoods of the people in the district,” he stated
Apart from renovating Chimkombero health post, the World Bank’s performance based grant, Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) has also constructed two healthcare staff houses and two VIP latrines at the site, all to a tune of K181 million.
Communities call for speedy opening of a police unit
By: Steve Chirombo
Dedza, May 7, Mana: Communities under Traditional Authority Kachere in Dedza have called on authorities at Dedza district council to open Namakasu Police Unit which they say once operational, will reduce long distance they cover to access justice.
The communities disclosed that they cover 48 kilometres to reach Chafumba which they said is their nearest police unit.
One of the community members, Isaiah Januwale, told Malawi News Agency (MANA) in an interview, on Monday that in the absence of a police unit, they cover a long distance to access help when need arises while others do not bother to report to police most incidences.
“Once this police unit becomes operational, we will get justice close and it will improve on our well-being. It is my plea to my fellow communities here to at least take care of the infrastructure because it belongs to us all,” he said
Another resident, Christina Lackison, said once operational, Namakasu Police Unit, will help them to quickly address issues such as theft, family disputes and property grabbing by men which are rampant in the area.
She said most women are being abused, but their cases do not see the light of the day due to longer distance which they can only get at Chafumba Police Unit.
“Now that we have this magnificent building here, there is hope that cases will be expedited. I call upon women to fully utilize this police unit once it becomes operational,” she stated.
On his part, Eleson Mchilindo, who is Group Village Headman Tsumbi where the police unit is built, said they resorted to request for a police unit having observed the long distance they cover to Chafumba Police Unit.
“Once this becomes operational and officers are deployed, we will ensure good working relationship and that their lives will be protected. Where things are wrong, we will always engage each other for a good resolution,” he said
Mchilindo further said that they have done several community meetings on the importance of having a police unit and that they will never entertain vandalism of the facility.
“Let me appreciate all the GVHs involved for proposing to have this infrastructure here, and government through Dedza district council for heeding to our cry and the communities for fully participating from the beginning to the end.
This is what we call teamwork. Our plea is that this structure becomes operational soon,” said Mchilindo
On his part, Macpherson Mwakhwawa, Director of Planning and Development (DPD) for Dedza, said his office is aware of the challenges communities around Namakasu police unit were facing and that they were liaising with their counterparts at Dedza police station on how best to address the situation.
“In the 2023/24 financial year, we had an allocation for the police unit at Namakasu. So, in the budget for the 2024/25 there is an allocation of a staff house. However, the expectation of the community is for us to handover the police unit before we construct the staff house,” said Mwakhwawa
The DPD further said, in their discussions with officials at Dedza police station, the assumption is that the first phase (police unit) be handed over to the communities as they wait for the construction of the staff house.
The K79 million Namakasu Police Unit comprising of two VVIP latrines was constructed under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). Once complete, it is expected to provide services to communities under six GVHs in the area of T/A Kachere in the district.
Continental, global summits vital for Malawi’s development
By Patricia Kapulula in Nairobi, Kenya
Nairobi, May 6, Mana: Malawi High Commissioner to Kenya, Callista Mutharika, says summits such as the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) are important for countries like Malawi which rely on agriculture as major forex earner.
She told Malawi journalists in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday ahead of the AFSH Summit which runs from Tuesday to Thursday.
Mutharika said it is important for Malawi to take part in such engagements as the country, despite relying on agriculture, does not manufacture fertilizer hence the need to engage with different stakeholders at continental level in securing such agricultural commodities as fertilizer.
“This is an opportunity for our President to come to Kenya to commit himself and speak to different development agencies that can help us in securing fertilizer and getting advice on what Malawi needs to do,” she said.
Last month, President Lazarus Chakwera was in Nairobi, Kenya for the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA) Summit to identify key priority areas for financing in Africa and advocate for an ambitious replenishment of IDA resources, crucial for supporting transformational development objectives across the continent.
President Chakwera is expected to attend the AFSH Summit on Thursday, which brings together all relevant stakeholders to highlight the crucial role of fertilizer and soil health in stimulating sustainable pro-poor productivity growth in African agriculture and to agree on an African Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan as well as the Soils Initiative for Africa.
In June 2006, African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government endorsed the Abuja Declaration on Fertilizer for the Africa Green revolution, a continental strategy to reverse the worrying trend of poor productivity of the African soils.
The declaration focused on key targets required for agricultural growth, food security and rural development in Africa, with a focus on fertilizer.
Government geared to promote tourism sector
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, May 6, Mana: Head of Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU), who is also Deputy Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Janet Banda, has said government will continue to asses and implement the performance of tourism sector to make it productive.
Speaking during the opening of a two-day pre-tourism lab meeting at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe, Banda highlighted that there are some barriers in the tourism sector which are important for the government to address.
“The meeting is very important as we will be discussing issues which have been holding back this sector. Despite making efforts in the tourism sector, there are a lot of setbacks which we need to work on,” said Banda.
She further said there are a lot of problems which the tourism sector is facing, such as poor infrastructure and poor coordination in the tourism team, adding that the pre-lab meeting will help to come up with better solutions.
In his remarks, Secretary for Tourism Chancy Simwaka articulated the need of having the pre-lab as it will isolate the main bottlenecks that have been affecting the tourism sector in the country.
“As Ministry of Tourism, we are going to make effort to develop various skills in the tourism sector, including hotel management, food production and tour guides to make sure that we have good standards in the industry,” said Simwaka.
The pre-lab meeting comes after the tourism sector hosted the Takulandirani Mw International Tourism Expo (MITE), which was graced by President Lazarus Chakwera last month.
Chakwera calls for meaningful investments
By Mana Reporter
Texas, May 6, Mana: President, Dr Lazarus Chakwera has urged prospective investors in Texas to consider investing in Malawi to help the nation through meaningful investments rather than exploitation.
He said this during a Malawi-Texas business roundtable discussion aimed at courting possible partnerships and investments in various sectors, particularly those that align with the Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) strategy.
Chakwera assured prospective investors that they would receive full support and a conducive environment for smooth operations if they decide to invest in Malawi.
The President urged investors to consider Mega-farms instead of subsistence farming if they want to invest in agriculture, citing Malawi's abundant resources such as valleys and beautiful landscapes.
During the meeting, experts who accompanied the President, presented data, statistics and the market outlook in Malawi in agriculture, tourism, and mining, among other things, to a delegation of private sector players from Texas led by Founder and Chief Executive Officer for Time to Revive, Dr Kyle Lance Martin.
The Texas team presented their interests in Malawi and what they already do in America to the President.
Minister of Trade, Sosten Gwengwe, said that the US-Africa summit was a prime opportunity for Malawi to attract more investors and bolster its economic prospects.
"Even though Malawi already has collaborations with some American companies such as African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Pyxus, the government is committed to attracting additional potential investors during the summit," he stated
Gwengwe expressed confidence that Malawi would showcase what it has to offer in alignment with ATM strategy.
Tree falls on restaurant in Karonga, 9 injured
By George Mponda
Karonga, May 6, Mana: Seven men and two women were yesterday afternoon rushed to Karonga District Hospital after a tree fell onto a restaurant in Karonga Main Market in which they were served with food.
The nine people who survived various degrees of injuries are still admitted and receiving medical treatment at the health facility.
According to Public Relations Officer for Karonga Police Station, George Mulewa, the incident happened Sunday in the afternoon.
Director of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for Karonga District Council, David Sibale, confirmed that the accident survivors are still receiving treatment at Karonga District Hospital.
"As of today, we have two female patients and seven male patients. They are generally in a stable condition and some of them may be discharged today,” said Sibale.
