By Leah Malimbasa

Chikwawa, April 13, Mana: Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, has reassured Malawians that government is working towards raising a US$150 million deficit needed to complete phase 1 of the Shire Valley Transformation Program (SVTP).

Kawale was speaking in Chikwawa after inspecting works at the SVTP site and interacting with members of Kambadwe Cooperative on Friday.

“We visited SVTP site to witness first-hand the progress of the construction. We are aware of the delays which occurred due to the cyclone, but today I’ve seen tremendous progress,” Kawale said.

On concerns over availability of resources, Kawale disclosed that discussions were ongoing with some development partners for the project.

Kawale said the recent passed 2024/2025 budget, resources were allocated for the project and development partners are eager to ensure the programme's completion.

The Minister is optimistic that the vision of having a food-secure nation will become a reality through the SVTP.

Senior Chief Kasisi concurred with Kawale that food security will only be achieved through irrigation farming.

“Currently, we only harvest once a year but once the SVTP project is completed, these cooperatives will be having multiple harvests in a year,” said chief Kasisi.

Secretary for Kambadwe Cooperative, Anne Kholophethe, said the project will transform lives as they already identified markets for the cash crops they will be producing as a cooperative.

“We have been trained on how to run a cooperative and, currently, we have saved K2.8 million to invest in our 294 hectares of land,” said Kholophethe.

After interacting with farmers at Kambadwe Cooperative, the minister visited Nkhate Irrigation Scheme and interacted with farmers under Nkhate Water Users Association and Nkhate Cooperative.

By Petro Mkandawire

Blantyre, April 13, Mana:  Senior Health Promotion and Public Relations Officer for Blantyre District Health Office, Chrissy Banda, has disclosed that the district has recorded 14 cases of people who consumed alcohol known as ‘Ambuye Nditengeni’ whereby 10 are registered dead.

Banda disclosed this Friday at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre during a media engagement aimed at updating the media on disease outbreaks and capacitating them on Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRM), a procedure that enables local communities to raise grievances with health facilities and seek redress when they feel aggrieved.

Banda said preliminary findings of all 14 victims, who consumed the alcohol believed to be made from ethanol, are males aged between 22 to 56 years and they consumed it from different local drinking spots in Manase Township, Blantyre.

“The preliminary findings have established that the alcohol has poison in it. We are still waiting for laboratory results which, according to the pathologist, will take two to three weeks to get confirmed.

"Investigations are still underway as there are some recommendations that police and other stakeholders should facilitate mass inspection and closure of drinking spots selling Ambuye Nditengeni widely Known as Magagada,” said Banda.

She added that health education in communities on alcohol abuse, surveillance and issuance of two press releases related to Magagada are some of the interventions that have been done so far.

Banda urged Health Surveillance Assistants and community members to report quickly to Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response coordinator in case of occurrence of new cases.

In a separate interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) Southern Region Police Spokesperson, Joseph Sauka, said police have swung into operation to arrest those selling illicit alcohol, advising imbibers to be responsible when taking as well as choosing alcohol that would not compromise their health.

“As investigations are still underway, currently, some other make shift drinking spots (shabeen) owners have been arrested. We have put measures to counteract the effects of selling such alcoholic drinks. It is the responsibility of every consumer to refrain from non-standardized alcohol to avoid putting lives at risk,” said Sauka.

By Mervin Namikungulu

Machinga, April 13, Mana: Government has assured people of Mangochi and surrounding areas that it is closely monitoring water level situation in Lake Malawi and Shire River through Kamuzu Barrage amid heavy downpour in recent days.

The assurance comes following an appeal from concerned people from Mangochi asking government to consider increasing the volume of water which passes through the barrage as it is believed to contribute to flash floods in the area.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting on Friday after an inspection tour of the barrage, Commissioner for Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Charles Kalemba, said the barrage is managed to control water flow which affects upper stream of Shire River, lakeshore areas and downstream areas of Nsanje and Chikwawa.

Kalemba refuted claims that the barrage is sometimes closed or reduces its capacity to control water flow.

He said: "The barrage operates using an automatic software which is computer based. So, when water levels change, the machines detect and sounds an alarm. It is not true that the barrage is sometimes closed."

Mangochi concerned citizens chairperson, Councilor Wellington Mangulenje, has commended government for timely addressing their concerns.

Mangulenje appealed for collective efforts in conserving the environment to minimize devastating effects of climate change.

Currently, water levels in Lake Malawi and Shire River are said to be at 476.3 mm which is slightly below the 477mm highest recorded water levels.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretaries in the ministries of Lands, Local Government, Natural Resources, Water, representatives from DoDMA, District Commissioners for Mangochi and Machinga, Mangochi concerned grouping as well as district council officials, among others.

By Robert Nayeja

Chikwawa, April 13, Mana: Minister of Agriculture, Sam Kawale, says government is committed to invest more in irrigation farming as one way of ensuring that people have enough food in the country.

Kawale made the remarks on Friday after touring Nkhathe Irrigation Scheme in Chikwawa.

He said his ministry will continue to empower schemes by providing necessary support so that farmers can produce more and make their families food secure.

"Malawi has experienced various natural phenomena such as dry spells and floods. This is a clear indication that, as a country, we cannot rely much on rain fed farming.  We need to put much resources in irrigation and provide solutions that irrigation farmers are facing in order to increase productivity," he said.

Kawale said his ministry will provide both technical and material support in order to enhance productivity in irrigation farming.

"We have seen problems that Nkhathe Irrigation Scheme and other schemes in the country are facing. As government, we are committed to take necessary actions so that we can address these challenges as we keep ensuring that irrigation schemes are operating smoothly and contribute positively to social economic development of the community and the nation at large," he said.

Nkhathe Irrigation Scheme Treasurer, Bernad Byone, said the scheme is experiencing low water supply due to the high demand of water for irrigation and has since asked government to intervene.

"Everyone has now discovered that irrigation farming is the way to go especially this time as the country is experiencing dry spell. This has made demand of irrigation farming grow in our area resulting in insufficient water for irrigation," he said.

Byone asked government to provide the scheme with high quality seeds and fertilizer.

The 243 hectare Nkhathe Scheme has 1,506 farmers.

The scheme grows crops such as maize, rice, and sweet potatoes.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, April 13, Mana: Heavy rains that started in the wee hours of Friday have caused flash floods at Chintheche in Nkhata Bay, disrupting businesses and health service delivery at Chintheche Rural Hospital.

Confirming the development, Senior Health Promotion Officer for Nkhata Bay District Health Office, Christopher Singini, said service delivery was affected at Chintheche Rural Hospital as water had gushed the facility’s wards.

Singini said flood waters found their way into the wards due to blockage of a drain on the upper side of the facility. 

“Equipment has not been damaged, however there are fears of disease infections due to contaminated water that gushed the hospital wards,” he said.

Senior Chief Malanda said the flash floods had rendered some families in the area homeless and feared for the worst as the downpour was continuing at the time of the interview.

He said businesses were also seriously affected, including at the only filling station in the area, where operations were brought to a halt because water had flooded its premises.  

“More damage will likely follow because water levels in most rivers are very high,” he said.

Councilor for Chintheche Ward, Spencer Khuni, said there was need for urgent help to the families whose houses were damaged.

Disaster Risk Management Officer for Nkhata Bay, Rachel Kamanga, said her office was aware of the situation, saying they were working hand in hand with local leaders to come up with final assessment report and map way forward.

By Tikondane Vega

Blantyre, April 12, Mana: Minister of Tourism Vera Kantukule says there is need for a strong coordination between stakeholders at all levels if the country is to resuscitate Michiru forest reserve which has almost been depleted.

Kantukule said this in Blantyre on Friday after discussing with stakeholders on how to address Michiru Nature Sanctuary and Michiru forest reserves problems.

The minister said stakeholders have agreed that to protect the forest, all concerned stakeholders need to play their part continuously as the lasting solution to deal with the challenge.

“We have been engaging Malawi Defence Force to guard the forest and when they go back after the expiring of their time, people go back and start cutting down trees while others continue to burn charcoal. It means this way alone is not sustainable because they cannot be there every time.

During our meeting, Judiciary has assured us that they will continue handing custodial sentences to all perpetrators and on the other part, police will arrest and bring to court the suspects connected to Michiri destruction,” she said.

Kantukule said other stakeholders like civil society organizations will continue to carry out sensitization meetings for people surrounding the forest though many are of the view that people who destroy the forest are not the surrounding community but from other areas.

She added,” when I go to Lilongwe, I  will hold a meeting with Minister of Defence and Homeland security on how we can consistently protect the forest bearing in mind that the duty to protect the forest   does not lie  in the Ministry of Natural Resources or tourism only.

“The meeting today has brought all relevant stakeholders and this only shows the seriousness that government has towards Michiru forest. Going forward we shall also continue capacitating all stakeholders for them to discharge their duties well.

On his part, Maliko Chikaonga who is Founder of Dzuka Chilomoni and a member of Friends of Michiru said the meeting has been an eye opener as all stakeholders have agreed to work as one as they continue to protect Michiru forest.

Chikaonga said more things need to happen as ways to protect the forest suggesting to economically empower the surrounding communities with income generating activities like bee keeping so that they should not think of destroying the forest as part of their survival.

Statistics show that in 2023, the forest registered 60 cases and there has been 100 percent conviction rate, but the sentences have been small, a thing judiciary has already started addressing by giving custodial sentences with no fine as option.