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Wildlife management graduates urged to conserve wildlife
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, April 4, Mana: The Malawi College of Forestry and Wildlife (MCFW) on Wednesday awarded certificates in Wildlife Management Course to 30 students under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) with a call to the graduates to continue with wildlife conservation.
Speaking when he presided over the function, Chauncy Simwaka, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, said wildlife is significant as it plays a big role in the tourism industry hence the need for skilled labour to be able to manage the field.
He said the workforce is also crucial as it informs the communities living close to protected areas on how they can co-exist with wildlife.
“Thus, capacity building and adding skills to our officers is important and we are excited with these 30 students who have undergone this course here at Malawi Forestry and Wildlife,” he said.
He also said that the country’s wildlife reserves have somehow been considered a corridor for smuggling wildlife products but added that with assistance from other stakeholders, they are managing such trends.
He further said the Tourism Ministry has completed diploma course syllabus that incorporates emerging issues, so that it is introduced at the college.
MCFW Principal Dr Monica Gondwe said the graduates were expected to help in the management of wildlife resources towards achieving the Malawi 2063.
She, however, complained of poor road network from the M1 to the institution and that since 1958, when the institution was established, it has never gone under any major maintenance.
“Above all, since that year (1958), we use gravity fed water system and our equipment is outdated hence a call for a bail out,” she said.
On his part, Frank Marko, Senior Parks and Wildlife Assistant in the Depart of National Parks and Wildlife, who also graduated as one of the best students, said the Wildlife Management Course is crucial because it provides opportunities and skills to students to ably execute their duties with confidence and professionalism.
He said unlike in the past, Malawi is currently doing well in wildlife to the extent that other nationals that used to move about with wildlife specimen are afraid since the Wildlife Act was passed in 2017.
“As a country, we have a future in the tourism industry. However, poor road networks are somehow a setback as, during rains, most tourists do not reach their intended destinations,” he said.
Out of the 30, 11 got certificates with a lower credit, 10 with upper credit while two got the certificates with distinctions.
Free Water Token Initiative accelerates access to potable water
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, April 4, Mana: It was February 2023. Malawi was slowly plunging in a health crisis with over 42,427 cases of cholera and 1,400 deaths confirmed nationwide. What started as a single case was growing day by day. The threat of cholera was now more than just a threat. with limited access to safe and clean water as the main cause for the escalating outbreak.
The damning statistics did not only scare Getrude Sichali Ng’oma, chairperson of Communal Water Point 13 at Kamija Village in the area of Traditional Authority Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay District was at that time marked as a Cholera hotspot.
Meanwhile her communal water point was disconnected for a K132,000 bill forcing community members to draw water from unprotected shallow wells some two kilometers away.
As fellow women passed by her doorstep heading to the well to draw water with a ‘please bail us out’ look stuck on their faces, Sichali felt helpless, and her heart bled.
“With the rising cases of cholera, it was a worrying situation for us because we sadly knew that sooner or later, we may be hit as we were drinking from unprotected sources. Our kiosk had been disconnected for almost a year after we failed to settle an accumulated bill of K132,000,” she recalls.
Then came the announcement on the radio that the Government had ordered the reopening of all kiosks as a way of containing cholera which was rampant in low-income areas.
While the news brought relief to Sichali as the kiosk leader, the news did not resolve the issue of the outstanding bills and that worried her still. The fear of the bill piling up to unmanageable debt.
A few days after the announcement, Sichali and community members received another news that would now offer a big relief. Apart from the reconnection, the Northern Region Water Board (NRWB)would clear their bill, reconnect them with a prepaid meter besides providing them with free water tokens for a period of 6 months from February to August 2023.
“We received water board officials who came to deliver the news, but I was skeptical at first because that looked like a dream. I doubted it was happening,” recollects Sichali.
That dream came to pass a few days later as the team from NRWB came to reconnect the kiosk with a prepaid metre and water started flowing.
Later, the board’s chairperson, Frank Mwenifumbo accompanied by District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa visited the communal water point with the free water tokens to kickstart the Free Water Token Initiative for all communal water points within the board’s supply area.
“We got our first two tokens for March and April 2023. It was an unbelievable moment as our debt was also wiped out. All we had to do was go to the board’s office monthly to get our free tokens for the remaining months,” added Sichali.
According to Chief Executive Officer for NRWB, Francis Munthali, the Free Water Token Initiative was inspired by the Presidential initiative ‘Tithetse Cholera Campaign’ as part of the Ministry of Water and Sanitation National Cholera response plan on WASH.
“We collaborated with Government to reduce the impact and spread of the outbreak. To this end, we came up with this initiative utilizing part of the funds saved under the European Investment Bank (EIB) financed Malawi NRWB Water Efficiency Project – about Euro 199,999 approximately K217 million.
“We are glad that the EIB approved this request because it accelerated access to water by vulnerable and low-income communities and consequently reduced and contained the outbreak within our supply areas,” explains Munthali.
From Kamija, to Chibavi Location in Mzuzu and Mwanganda kiosk in Karonga District, 400 kiosks benefitted from the initiative. Each of the kiosks transitioned to a prepaid metering system as a deliberate mechanism to enhance proper management of communities’ water consumption and usage.
It did not end there. Over 90 public secondary and primary schools that were disconnected or struggling to settle their bills also benefited from the intervention.
According to Deputy Director of Health for Mzuzu City Council, Mavuto Lupwayi, the initiative was a game changer in the city’s drive to stop the spread of the disease besides promoting general hygiene practices.
“In the city, we have some communities who lacked access to potable water. So, this was a key intervention that helped us contain cholera in the city such that we did not have high cases,” Lupwayi states.
Apart from the free tokens and clearing of debt, the initiative trained members of communal water points on sustainability of the water supply after the expiry of the initiative’s period. Six months after the initiative, almost all kiosks remain connected with members able to buy water tokens on their own.
“You can see that beneficiary communities of the initiative have now proceeded to buy water tokens beyond the six months. We engaged and trained them to use this period when they have access to free water to rebuild themselves and plan for payments after,” added Munthali.
At Kamija, the community is now relieved as its communal water point is still operational.
“I am happy. The free water supply period gave us time to plan for life after the initiative and now we have put in place mechanisms to ensure that we don’t get disconnected again. I am happy that through this initiative our area was spared of the outbreak,” concludes Sichali with a smile.
250 hectares of crops destroyed by floods in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, April 3, Mana: District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa, has disclosed that over 250 hectares of crops have been washed away by floods in the area of Senior Chief Fukamapiri in the district.
He said the floods, caused by heavy down pour over the past weeks, have also left some families homeless.
In interview on Sunday, during a monitoring visit to the affected areas to appreciate the extent of the damage, Newa said the district is urgently looking into measures to assist the affected households.
“Over the past weeks we have been receiving continuous heavy rainfall which led to flooding of Linga Dam affecting crops at Linga Irrigation Scheme and some surrounding areas.
“Assessment of the damage is still underway but preliminary assessment from our agriculture office indicates that over 250 hectares of crop land of immature maize, cassava, bananas and rice have been washed away, posing fear of hunger to affected communities” Newa said.
He said the Council is working on short term plans to make sure that food and shelter is available to the affected households and also devising long term plans like helping farmers to replant some of the crops that may still do better in the remaining time of this year’s growing season.
“We are further advising them to make good use of waters in the dam for irrigation in the dry season and also urging them to practice farming systems that promote minimum soil disturbance to protect their crops from being washed away by floods,” he said.
Senior Irrigation Engineer for Nkhata Bay, Edward Mjiku, said the blockage of the river course by branches of trees and grass at Linga Dam also contributed to the flooding.
One of the affected farmers, Green Banda, said his family will be rendered food insecure as the floods washed away a huge chunk of his three-acres field.
According to Senior Assistant Meteorologist for Nkhata Bay, Amos Chimbwira, there is a possibility for the district to continue receiving heavy rainfall as the country draws towards the end of 2023/2024 rainfall season.
Karonga traders incur losses amid heavy rains
By George Mponda
Karonga, April 3, Mana: Business people who play their trade on the shores of Lake Malawi in Karonga say they are making losses due to swelling of the lake which is affecting their businesses.
In an interview on Wednesday, Paul Ndhlovu, who operates Blue Beach Bar, a popular spot located along the lake said water has overflowed blocking roads leading to the place and causing damage to infrastructure.
Ndhlovu said: "The situation has worsened eversince heavy rains started falling in the district in March. Water has overflowed to our place of business and some structures have collapsed as they are now submerged in water."
"In the dry season, we used to receive alot of customers but now as few as 20 people are coming to our establishment because all roads which lead here have been blocked," he added.
A fisherman, Victor Nhyasulu, complained that continuous heavy rains are making it hard for them to go for fishing expeditions on the lake.
"Most fishermen are not fishing due to the rains and this has led to a rise in fish prices since the supply is low. Heavy rains have also increased post harvest loss because some fish stalls have been submerged in water making storage of fish very difficult and we are making losses," Nhyasulu said.
Acting Fisheries Officer for Karonga District Council, Patrick Moyo, echoed Nhyasulu's sentiments, saying most landing sites have no shelters or store rooms where business people can keep their processed fish.
"Lack of proper shelters or store rooms increases the rate at which processed fish is attacked by molds and produces bad odor which eventually lead to low prices or the fish is thrown away altogether.
"This time we are happy that the Sustainable Fisheries, Aquaculture Development and Watershed Management (SFAD-WM) project is constructing landing facilities in areas where active fishing is done like Kaporo, Chipamira, Ngala and Chilumba," Moyo said.
According to a memo released by the National Water Resources Authority, as of 11 March, during the 2023/2024 hydrological year, Lake Malawi water level is at 475.95 meters above sea level (masl).
Last year it was at 475.12 masl on the same date representing an 83 centimetres increase in water levels.
"Lake Malawi waters reach peak between the months of April and May each year and this hydrological year, the lake levels have taken the highest trajectory since 2010. The increase has been attributed to increased rains in the Northern Region of Malawi and Tanzanian side which constitute the main catchment area of Lake Malawi," reads the memo.
Minister calls for serious investment in biodiversity conservation
By Tikondane Vega
Blantyre, April 3, Mana: Minister of Natural Resources and Climate Change, Michael Usi has called on African countries to decisively priorities biodiversity conservation in the national budget and demonstrate commitments in preserving rich biodiversity for sustainable economic development of their respective countries.
The minister said this in Blantyre on Wednesday during the opening of the 10th African Regional Dialogue on Biodiversity Finance which has attracted 18 African countries including Botswana, Comoros, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
Usi said while considering the importance of biodiversity to social and economic development, it is sad to note that biodiversity expenditure is the smallest of the total national budget in most countries yet financial needs assessments reveal that millions of dollars are needed to manage biodiversity-specific goals effectively.
He, therefore, said increasing budget expenditure for biodiversity conservation was not only a moral imperative but also an investment in collective future.
“At the last conference of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, biodiversity finance plans featured highly on the agenda and the expectation is that countries will not just develop biodiversity finance plans but should also implement them and generate tangible financing for biodiversity.
“The success of this initiative will, therefore, be based on how much financial resources we make available for biodiversity. I, therefore, expect this meeting to reflect on biodiversity conservation and explore innovative ways in which it can be funded,” he said.
Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda, said Malawi was making strides in financing ecosystem conservation as evidenced by allocation of resources in the 2024/2025 annual budget.
Banda observed knowledge gap on issues of biodiversity and expressed hope the meeting will address the knowledge gap so that Malawi will make informed decision when awarding contract and distribution of resources generated from the area.
“As you know biodiversity touches several economic sectors such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries hence recognizing its importance, Malawi completed the task of tagging biodiversity in the national budget since previously biodiversity did not have codes in the government’s charts of account.
“Now we have developed biodiversity budgeting codes for Ministry of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs Department, Department of Water Resources and Department of Tourism. Development of biodiversity codes will enable allocation of funds for biodiversity conservation within the public finance system. Further the codes will enable expenditure tracking of biodiversity within the public finance system,” said Banda.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for Malawi, Fenella Frost, said Malawi has gone a significant mile in hosting esteemed delegates from 18 countries alongside distinguished team from the Global Office.
She said: “This underscores our collective commitment towards biodiversity conservation. This dialogue is an invaluable platform for experts in biodiversity finance across Africa and the UNDP- Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) Global Office to convene, share experiences, and gather insights into innovative resource mobilization strategies. Together, we aim to chart a sustainable course for biodiversity conservation.
“We are here to facilitate experience sharing and technical discussions among BIOFIN countries, leveraging our collective expertise to drive meaningful progress in biodiversity conservation. We also seek to share experiences and lessons learned on the effective implementation of finance solutions, drawing insights from global initiatives and emerging frameworks such as disclosure frameworks, subsidy repurposing, insurance mechanisms, and risk management strategies.
Malawi joined BIOFIN in 2019. The project is being managed through UNDP and is led by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change and the Ministry of Finance.
In the first phase of implementation from 2019 to 2022, the project developed a biodiversity finance plan which has 11 priority innovative solutions for funding biodiversity conservation, some of the solutions include: payment for ecosystems services; carbon marketing for biodiversity conservation; tagging biodiversity in the national budget; and recapitalization of statutory funds in the natural resources sector.
Meanwhile, Malawi is in the process of recruiting a consultant to undertake the feasibility study for the Payment for Ecosystems Services Scheme.
Malawi’s goal is to ensure that BIOFIN solutions shift from heavy reliance on funding from Government and Oversees Development Assistance to self-funded initiatives in executing conservation work.
Ngunga Foundation donates electrical fans to Balaka District Council
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, April 3, Mana: A Malawian businessman based in South Africa, Idrissa Ngunga, who is founder of Ngunga Foundation, on Tuesday donated 11 electrical fans to Balaka District Council.
Speaking after handing over the fans, Ngunga said he made the donation in response to the council’s need of office equipment.
Said Ngunga: “I asked the DC to give me immediate need of his office considering that this was a very big office which offers services to a lot of people.
“I was given a list of things such as computers, printers, fans, office maintenance but today I am here to start with donation of the fans which will go a long way in helping members of staff work in conducive environment as Balaka is very hot.”
Apart from the DC’s office, Ngunga has been to Police and the district hospital on the same.
He disclosed that he was constructing visitor’s shelter at Balaka Police Station.
“I have been to Turkey for studies and later in 1993 migrated to South Africa where I am currently working. I have seen a lot such that when I compare with Malawi, we are very far and this is why I am trying to do my part by assisting Balaka and Machinga.
“Currently, I have established groups of older people and those with disabilities and I am providing them with food. I am also constructing proper shelter to those that have no shelter. I have so far constructed 35 houses,” he said.
Ngunga said will also invest in child education after observing that most of the school blocks in Balaka leave a lot to be desired at the expense of quality education.
Balaka District Council Acting Director of Administration, Chipiliro Mtambaika, hailed Ngunga Foundation for the kind gesture saying the donation was timely and ideal.
“Balaka is a hot place, many times, members of staff work while sweating due to hot weather. The fans will go a long way in offering conducive environment for the staff,” she said.
Zalewa to have piped water system
By Salome Gangire
Neno, April 3, Mana: People of Zalewa in Neno will soon enjoy safe and potable water following a project by Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) that will install piped water system at the trading centre.
Zalewa Trading Centre and surrounding areas has no piped water and communities use ground water from boreholes and due to salinity, communities are compelled to use water from Shire River which is not safe.
Briefing District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting on Tuesday, Zalewa Water Supply Project Implementation Manager, Engineer Maxin Saulosi, said the water supply project will be carried out with financial support from the Export-Import Bank of India and will serve a population of 12,118 by 2040.
He said government has secured funding from the Export-Import Bank for drinking water supply schemes and other developments and has allocated part of amount for the construction of new water source on Shire River and associated infrastructure to Blantyre and SRWB.
“As SRWB, we have been given $65.6 million to establish new water supply centres at Ulongwe in Balaka, Thondwe in Zomba, Migowi in Phalombe, Fatima in Nsanje and Zalewa in Neno and upgrade and extend existing water supply schemes at Mwanza, Liwonde and Balaka,” Saulosi said.
He said SRWB is mandated to supply water to all the towns and market centres in southern region and decided to provide water at Zalewa looking at the growth of the trading centre.
The project will also construct 10 communal water points targeting people with low income at Zalewa.
“The project will start anytime soon as we are just waiting for approval of no objection from Indian government,” he said.
Water Development Officer at Neno District Council, Richard Mkandawire said Zalewa was facing a lot of challenges because of no potable water as a result communities experience a number of water borne disease outbreaks like cholera and typhoid.
He said the SRWB project will solve all the problems as it will lead to growth of Zalewa Trading Centre, observing that people were reluctant to open their businesses because there was no piped water.
“The coming of this project will make more people to come and open businesses which will lead to the growth of the trading centre,” Mkandawire said.
Zalewa has a population of 6,060 according to the 2018 Population and Housing Census.
Project hailed for promoting inclusion
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, April 2, Mana: District Social Welfare Officer for Kasungu, Ephraim Njikho has hailed the Sparking Disability Inclusive Rural Transformation (Spark) project for promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in agriculture value chain activities in the district.
Coordinated by the International Labour Organisation, Spark is a two-year project that seeks to create and promote employment opportunities of people with disabilities in programmes that are funded by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) in Malawi.
Speaking on Monday during a community visit of Spark Project beneficiaries at Chulu and Chisinga in Kasungu west, Njikho said people with disabilities have often suffered in silence because they are invisible as they lack exposure hence missing out on socioeconomic opportunities.
He said: “The major challenge people with disabilities face is that they lack exposure. When they meet various difficult situations such as being excluded in socioeconomic activities, they don’t come in the open. They are invisible and suffer in silence.
“This is why we applaud the interventions under the Spark project which have helped to raise community awareness through advocacy and trainings to help people with disabilities enjoy their rights on equal footing like anyone else.”
National Project Officer for Spark, Vincent Kavala, said at least 300 people with all kinds of impairments have already found opportunities in the IFAD funded projects, specifically Transforming Agriculture through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (Trade) and Financial Access for Rural Markets, Smallholders and Enterprise (Farms).
The Trade project supports rural communities in the agriculture value chain while the Farms programmer supports household economic development through promotion of access to financial services.
Said Kavala: “We are targeting all people with any type of impairment through a rights based approach towards inclusion. We understand that people with disabilities face a number of barriers including attitudes from communities, extension officers, and also issues of inaccessible infrastructure and others which hinder their participation.
“I’m happy to report that we have made good strides in that we have over 300 beneficiaries included in IFAD funded programmes in Kasungu only, against our target of 428. We are sure by the end of this year we will have reached our target.”
According to the 2018-2023 National Disability Mainstreaming Strategy, there are over 1.5 million people with disabilities in the country and about 90 percent of them live in the rural areas surviving on subsistence farming.
Funded to the tune of $230, 000 (about MK400 million), the Spark project is also implemented in Chitipa, Nkhata Bay and Thyolo districts.
Farmers cautioned against selling maize to vendors
By Austine Patrice Kachilika
Mzimba, April 2, Mana: M’mbelwa District Council Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources, Beatrice Mbakaya has advised farmers in Mzimba District against selling their agricultural produce to vendors as the district is anticipating hunger in some areas.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Tuesday, Mbakaya said the district has been greatly affected by dry spells which have contributed to the withering and underdevelopment of crops in Mzimba.
“Mzimba District registered over 20 days of dry spells during this growing season which contributed to stunted growth and withering of crops in several areas in the district. As such, farmers should know that we are likely to experience hunger in the coming months and should refrain from selling their grains to vendors at an early stage,” she said.
Mbakaya further advised farmers in the district to adopt climate resilient technologies for improved agricultural productivity and enhanced nutrition security.
She said: “It is high time farmers started adopting climate smart agriculture technologies such as manure production, drip irrigation, livestock keeping, genetic modified crops adoption and moisture retention methods.”
Mbakaya also urged farmers to grow drought tolerant crops such as cassava, cassava, millet and sweet potatoes which may act as a substitute for maize.
“People in the district should realise that maize is not the only source of carbohydrates, therefore, they must try out other alternatives in the wake of climate change shocks”, said Mbakaya.
Commenting on the matter, Group Village Head Venge Nyirenda asked community members to take heed of the advice to prevent hunger from striking their households.
One of the farmers, Ephrina Mvula said the advice has come at a right time because it will help most farmers weigh their options, whether to store their produce for future use or fall for money and face hunger.
Dedza IWD unites over 100 women
By Steve Chirombo
Dedza, April 1, Mana: District Gender Officer (DGO) for Dedza District Council, Lisnet Dauya, has disclosed that all is set for the district’s International Women’s Day (IWD) commemoration scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, at Kwathu Boutique in the district.
According to Dauya, all preparations and support towards the event’s budget of around K2 million are at an advanced stage and that there will be several activities ranging from solidarity march, motivational talks, interactive sessions among the 125 women brought together under the theme, “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”
Said Dauya in an interview: “Let me express my gratitude for the support that has come, and the idea of bringing these women together is good and powerful as it will help us to form connections among Dedza women with different backgrounds.
“We believe a lot of relationships will be formed through this gathering and if we make them long lasting, it means it will be easy for us women in the district to support each other in different areas because well organized groups easily get support and many other opportunities,” she said.
She further stated that through the same gathering, it would be easy for women to influence for change or make decisions in areas such as health and agriculture, among others.
She also said the event will see participation of women from banking, health and agriculture sectors, who will talk to their fellow women who may in turn be able to learn several things and be motivated, eventually bringing in change and transform their households and communities they belong to and the entire district.
“During the day, there will also be cervical cancer screening to women willing to access the services. You know for some time, women have had own reservations on the same but this will provide an opportunity to the women to make informed decisions,” she said.
She however said, as the theme suggests, financial independent and healthier women contribute positively to the development of the country.
Special advisor to the President, who is also health and human rights activist, Martha Kwataine, is expected to grace the occasion.
