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DC asks CSOs to share work plans with the council
By Salome Gangire
Neno, February 28, Mana: Neno District Commissioner (DC) Rosemary Nawasha has asked Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in the district to share their work plans with the council for easy monitoring of their projects.
Nawasha made the call on Tuesday when she met with the CSOs working in the district.
“The council’s expectation is that you should be sharing working plans and budgets with the council and share quarterly progress reports so that the council should be aware of what is happening on the ground and, similarly, the council will also be sharing its budget and progress reports so that you also monitor us,” she told the representatives of the CSOs.
The DC therefore encouraged the CSOs to register with Non-Governmental Organisation Regulatory Board (NGORA) as government encourages councils to only accept NGOs that are registered with the authority to work in districts.
She added that the CSOs also need to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the council so that they complement one another.
Nawasha said the council also expects NGOs to implement projects based on the District Development Plan (DDP) and Social Economic Profile (SEP), as it outlines needs of the communities.
“I am also imploring NGOs to be implementing flagship projects, as this is what government is advocating. For example, if you’re building a school block, build also teachers houses plus Water, Sanitation and Hygiene facilities for leaners as a full package that should have an impact,” she said.
Nawasha added that Neno District Council expects that at the end of projects, NGOs should hand over project assets to the council so that there should be continuation of programmes even if the project phases out.
Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Charles Lomoni, emphasised the need for all NGOs working in the district to register with NGORA, saying non-registered organisations were operating in the district illegally.
Chairperson for Neno CSOs, Samson Njolomole, concurred with the DC, saying all CSOs working in the district need to sign MOUs, saying it becomes difficult to evaluate impact of projects that are implemented by NGOs that have not signed MOUs with the district council.
Minister impressed with e-payment on SCTP in Nkhotakota
By Innocent Chunga
Nkhotakota, February 28, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza, has expressed satisfaction over the progress of the electronic payment method in the implementation of the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) in Nkhotakota District.
Speaking after visiting some of the beneficiaries of the social cash transfer programme in Sub Traditional Authority Kamphambale at Dwambazi on Tuesday, Sendeza said the adoption of the system has assisted beneficiaries in budgeting and enhanced security in the disbursement of funds, among other areas.
She said the programme is a milestone in improving food and economic security levels of ultra-poor and labour constrained households in the district.
Meanwhile, the minister disclosed that government will soon start registering new beneficiaries in the programme, following its decision to increase the number of beneficiaries to help address challenges the ultra-poor families face in the country.
"Let me take this opportunity to advise and urge all responsible officials at the district council to ensure only deserving beneficiaries are registered," said Sendeza.
Some of the beneficiaries in the district said they have managed to construct decent houses and venture into farming and livestock production using money they received from the programme through TNM Mpamba and joining Village Savings and Loans (VSL) groups in the area.
In his remarks, TNM Mpamba Ltd. General Manager Christopher Sukasuka said his company has committed to support government in various projects, including Social Cash Transfer for smooth implementation of the project in the country.
Currently, the programme supports about 7,800 households in Nkhotakota.
The programme is being implemented by the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) through the district council with funding from Social Protection Multi-Donor Trust Fund and the World Bank.
Kawale launches K11.7 billion irrigation scheme construction in Rumphi
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, February 28, Mana: Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale has launched an K11.7 billion Chipofya Irrigation Scheme at Bolero in Rumphi, which is expected to benefit at least 4,559 people around the area.
Speaking during the launch on Tuesday, Kawale urged communities targeted with the scheme to produce enough for themselves and the country at large.
He said the project, the biggest under Programme for Rural Irrigation Development (PRIDE) irrigation schemes, is in line with Malawi 2063, which focuses on prospering together and living no one behind, including the rural communities.
In an interview, Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe said the project will help improve food security in the area, as people will be able to grow various crops throughout the year.
"There is a big challenge with rain fed agriculture because whenever the rains are poor our people experience hunger.
"However, with this scheme, people will be able to grow and harvest up to three times in a year. This means food security for our people in this area and beyond," he said.
Chikulamayembe also warned that those caught vandalizing or stealing materials meant for the project will face the law.
Team leader for the joint venture contractors consisting of MABLO, Mount Camel and PAM, Noel Maluza, assured people in the area that they will deliver the highest quality of work.
Chairperson for water users’ association, Robert Gondwe, said the people in the area are very happy and looking forward to improving their livelihoods through the scheme once completed.
The scheme will cover 983 hectares of land and is expected to be completed in 12 months.
PRIDE Project is funded by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Malawi Government.
Department of Forestry calls for collaboration to restore environment
By Mary Makhiringa
Balaka, February 28, Mana: Deputy Director of Forestry, Ted Kamoto, on Tuesday called for concerted efforts in the fight against deforestation and further asked people in the district to embark on restoration of the environment, as Balaka plans to plant 1.5 million trees this forestry season.
Kamoto said the Department of Forestry alone cannot manage but different players and sectors need to join hands towards the course so that the country’s environment is restored.
He made the remarks in Balaka during the district tree planting launch which took place in Traditional Authority Kachenga.
Said Kamoto: “As a department, we believe that the road towards restoring the environment goes beyond charcoal confiscation but make the people understand why it is important to have trees standing but not turning it to charcoal.
“We are having trees diminished year in and out and the climate related challenges that we are facing are problems that we have created ourselves, and together we need to change this to have a country that has trees.”
He has further asked for rescheduling in the tree planting, considering that climate is changing with delayed rainfall.
“If we look at the theme this year, it is about how do we bring in innovations to make sure that trees survive after planting. We should think of box ridges and other methodologies so that we keep more water for the trees to grow,” he said.
District Commissioner (DC) for Balaka, Tamanya Harawa, urged all to conserve the environment, describing it as a gift that God gave man.
He said: “I will take you back to the Bible and Quran where God first created the environment and later created man who was given the responsibility of taking care of it with all his might.
“Let us try to see the world as it used to be that time; a lot of trees, people had anything as fruits were all over. Look at the same now, it is a shame, let us take care of the environment as it is our obligation from God the creator.”
Harawa said Balaka planted a lot of tree seedlings but some did not survive due a number of factors that need to be looked into.
“If we continue depleting it at the level we are, just know we have a case to answer with God; nature itself fights back, and that is why we are experiencing all these environmental related calamities.
“Last year, we planted two million trees and survival rate was 87 percent. We lost 13 percent, which was not impressive and l know we can do better,” he said.
The DC further said his office has put deliberate by-laws to make sure that trees are protected, and he asked political leaders to also take active role in incorporating issues of environmental conservation in their political manifestos.
The 2024 tree planting season was held under the theme, “Forest Innovation in Action: Reforestation for a Sustainable Tomorrow”.
It is expected that the district will plant 1.5 million trees, and so far 983 thousand trees have already been planted.
Likoma’s acting STA Mwase laid to rest
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, February 28, Mana: Hundreds of people on Tuesday gathered at Chiponde Village in Likoma to witness the burial ceremony of acting Sub Traditional Authority (STA) Mwase who succumbed to esophageal cancer.
Speaking during the ceremony, a family representative Wycliffe Masoo said the family is saddened by the death of Mwase whom the family depended on.
“As family members, we are saddened by the death of our relative whom we all depended on, and we were expecting government to install him as STA this coming March. It is sad that he has been on acting capacity just for one year and some few months,” said Masoo.
He said the late chief, born John Khunie, died at his home village on Friday at the age of 62, and he is survived by a wife, eight children and five grandchildren.
District Commissioner for Likoma, Abubakar Nkhoma, said the district has lost a developmental conscious man who sacrificed himself by offering land for construction of various projects in his area.
“We have lost someone who was keen on development activities. For instance, he offered land in his area where a jetty is being constructed and another land where a health Centre is also being constructed. He will be missed a lot for his gesture; he was a good man,” said Nkhoma.
He said President Lazarus Chakwera had already approved Khunie’s nomination last year in December to be STA for the district, saying only tentative dates for the installation remained.
Nkhoma then asked family members to avoid conflicts when it comes to choosing someone from the family members who will replace late Khunie in order to maintain peace.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Likoma, Ashems Songwe, said Chakwera is saddened by the demise of Khunie.
“The President and our Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture are all shocked with the death of Khunie because the Minister was expecting to come for the installation of Khunie in March this year after the President approved his name,” said Songwe.
He said the President and the Minister condoled the bereaved family with K500,000 and K100,000 respectively.
The installation ceremony for the late STA was slated for March 2024, following the death of his predecessor in 2022.
Zomba DRMCs heed lessons from Cyclone Freddy
By Kondwani Magombo
Lilongwe, February 28, Mana: As Tropical Cyclone Freddy raged and caused massive loss of lives and property in the southern region in March 2023, fear gripped the people from villages around Likangala River in Zomba.
According to Chairperson for Disaster Risk Management Committee (DRMC) for Likangala Ward, Gasten Mwepesa, it was by grace that no deaths were recorded in the ward during the disaster.
However, there were several injuries and loss of property that were recorded due to collapsing houses as the river broke its banks, causing record floods downstream.
“The Cyclone Freddy destroyed houses and property, affecting over 1,300 families, who were taken to an evacuation Centre for shelter and humanitarian support,” explains the DRMC chair, adding: “We’ve had flash floods before but the 2023 were the worst, in years.”
The statement that Cyclone Freddy left to the people of Likangala Ward was clear and too bold to ignore: dressing the banks of Likangala River with vegetative cover would mitigate further occurrences of flash floods in future.
So, when the DRMC leadership, with guidance from the wards councilor, Munira Abdullah Bakali, thought of taking advantage of the 2023/2024 tree planting season to do the task, mobilizing members of the community was like preaching to church's praise and worship team.
“We saw it with our own eyes: We'd never seen Likangala River that hostile,” explains Catherine M’manga, a resident of Chiluphya Village, Likangala Ward. “So we'll do anything to ensure that in future, such floods no longer pose a threat to our lives.”
Thus, the DRMC and the members of the community in Likangala Ward have risen to the occasion and they are planting indigenous and exotic trees on the banks of Likangala River from Mpondabwino Trading Centre, going all the way downstream.
The Department of Disaster Management (DoDMA), officials from Zomba City Council, Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi (WESM) are among other players partnering the DRMC and members of the community in the task.
One notable thing in this tree planting exercise is the participation of all age groups of the community i.e. the youth, men and women, a spirit the DRMC chair attributes to the leadership of the ward.
“Our councilor, Munira Abdullah Bakali, always encourages us to work together with all stakeholders, including the youth, and we are very grateful that our community always rises to such occasions,” explains Mwepesa.
What is happening in Likangala Ward is just one of the interventions that DRMCs in Zomba City are doing to reduce or avoid the potential losses from hazards.
Elsewhere in Chinamwali Ward, the DRMC there is also working tirelessly, sensitizing people who have built their houses high on the slopes of Chinamwali Mountain, and those who have built in the paths of water bodies to, voluntarily, relocate.
Councilor Bakali, who is also the Vice Mayor of Zomba City, notes how risks associated with disasters affect lives, livelihood, and health in the city, impacting the economic, physical, cultural and environmental well-being of individuals, in the process.
The Vice Mayor applauds the job by the city's DRMCs and she pledges continued efforts to ensure that citizens are protected from further risks of disaster, where possible.
“Communities in Zomba City and the DRMC are trying hard to disseminate the message to the residents with actions on the ground,” explains Bakali.
She adds: “These efforts are remarkable since preparing for disasters saves countless lives, speeds up people's recovery and saves money.”
DoDMA, too, finds the risk reduction efforts a spirit worth emulating, noting that, mostly, disasters that Malawi has been experiencing are aggravated by lack of vegetative cover in prone areas.
“In the case of Freddy, mudslides caused inexplicable devastation due to the fact that there was no vegetative cover to reduce their impact,” observes DoDMA spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula.
He adds: “The planting of trees and reforestation around Likangala River is a ray of hope for better and safer places. We are looking forward to having the efforts replicated across the country under various Village DRMCs.”
NCDA calls for multi sectoral interventions
By Paul Madise
Lilongwe, February 28, Mana: The Non-Communicable Disease Alliance (NCDA) Malawi has called for multi-sectoral interventions in fighting non communication diseases (NCDs) in the country.
NCDA Chairperson, Maud Mwakasungula, made the remarks in Lilongwe on Tuesday during the Policy Landscape Analysis meeting.
Mwakasungula expressed the need for more support from government and stakeholders to ensure continued access to NCD services and availability in hard-to-reach areas across the country.
Mwakasungula commended government, through Ministry of Health, for its dedication in reducing the burden of NCDs in the country.
Ollen Mwalubunju, a Consultant who conducted the analysis, echoed the call for collaborative action, urging the Ministry of Information and Digitalization to utilize various media platforms for sensitization campaigns in addressing the long-term consequences of alcohol and drug abuse.
Mwalubunju highlighted the role of such initiatives in mitigating the exacerbation of NCDs in the long run.
Another Consultant, Dr Henry Ndindi, advised NCDA Malawi to continue working towards monitoring and implementation of its programmes through various stakeholders for effective service delivery and broader impact across the country.
What could be Zomba’s disaster in waiting
By Kondwani Magombo
Lilongwe, February 27, Mana: High up in the mountain of Chinamwali in Zomba, a smoke is spotted billowing into the sky. The first thought one has is that some fanatic of environmental degradation is in the process of making charcoal.
But casting one’s eyes wider and beyond, one is hit hard by shocking realization: some residents have built houses up the mountain to heights that leave them prone to disaster.
Among these residents is 66-year-old Dickson Kadwala, married, with 6 children.
To get to Kadwala’s house, which is made from unburnt bricks and mud, one does not only need to be athletic, but they should also possess the determination of a mountain hiker.
A range of houses line up in a terrace-like fashion, one “above” the other.
When one finally reaches Kadwala’s house, panting and exhausted, the panorama of Chinamwali residential location and the surrounding areas below compensates the hassle — but, perhaps, not enough to justify Kadwala's decision to build there.
The risky actions of the likes of Kadwala up the slopes of Chinamwali Mountain does not sit well with Disaster Risk Management Committee (DRMC) for Chinamwali Ward and, as a result, the committee has sprung to action.
“We find these actions very unacceptable, with what Tropical Cyclone Freddy taught us, as a nation, in March last year,” explains the ward's DRMC chair Andreck Tito. “So we’ve embarked on a door-to-door sensitization, urging those people in such disaster-prone areas to move to safer grounds.”
According to Tito, his committee is making headway and most of the disaster-prone residents are ready to relocate. The challenge, however, is that they don’t know where to relocate to, let alone how to make it there.
Sitting comfortably at the verandah of his house, Kadwala looks less disturbed by the danger that looms around him.
Just a few feet below Kadwala's house, his neighbour, a youthful man probably in his early 30s, is busy rebuilding a wall of his house that might have collapsed a couple of days before.
Kadwala concedes that his life, and that of his wife and children are at risk, with those huge rocks surrounding his house on the slopes of the mountain. But, according to the father of 6, this place is all that he and his family have, and they have nowhere to go.
“I’ve had enough warnings from these people,” he gestures at the DRMC members, “And I've always agreed that this place is prone to disaster. But I do not have anywhere to go.
“If I can be assisted with the relocation process, such as acquiring land and all the necessary logistics, including transport and construction of a house at the new place, I'm ready to move even tomorrow,” adds Kadwala, who claims to have bought the risky land from one of the chiefs in the area.
The scramble for land on the slopes of Chinamwali mountains was done behind the back of the authorities, according to Councilor Munira Abdullah Bakali, Vice Mayor for Zomba City.
As such, the chiefs and their subjects living on the slopes of the Chinamwali mountains are residing in an area that is not just unplanned, but not recognized by the city council.
However, the city's authorities have not taken the matter with arms folded: the establishment of the DRMC to conduct sensitization meetings with the chiefs and the residents to relocate is just one of the approaches that the city authorities have employed.
As the residents like Kadwala are looking up to city authorities to facilitate the relocation process, Zomba City's major challenge is that it has no adequate land, despite the city's fast growth.
“The city does not have land,” explains Clr. Bakali via a questionnaire. “Besides, these are residents that have their home villages and most of them came in to venture into business.
“These families have also been considered to be beneficiaries of the cash transfers to help them build their capitals to enable them boost their business and be able to relocate.”
Zomba continues to grow fast with a lot of people coming in to search for job opportunities, or venture into small businesses.
The authorities admit that the fast growth of the city has led to housing problems, unemployment, development of slums, water and sanitation problems, poor health and spread of diseases.
According to the Vice Mayor, up to 60 percent of Zomba City is unplanned and this leaves the control and management of most of the city's land into the hands of chiefs.
Consequently, the urban poor like Kadwala are driven to such living conditions due to the city's poor functioning land and housing markets, as well as lack of planning for urban development and growth.
The authorities in Zomba believe that the existing housing problem could be solved by extending the boundaries of the city; increasing staff under District Risk Management; and increasing funding allocation for the city.
The Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) describes Zomba City's approach of engaging residents in disaster prone areas through DRMC as “a path in the right direction” where reducing disaster risks is concerned.
DoDMA’s spokesperson Chipiliro Khamula says the efforts of Chinamwali Ward DRMC are worth emulating across the country to reduce disaster risks among the citizenry.
“Engaging communities on the dangers of living in disaster prone areas is in line with our efforts aimed at relocating communities (living in disaster prone areas) to safer places,” explains Khamula.
According to Khamula, currently, DoDMA has relocated over 3,600 households in Makhanga area, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlolo, Nsanje, to safer places within the same T/A.
But, perhaps, as they await authorities-facilitated relocation, residents like Kadwala, who managed to acquire land in disaster prone areas and constructed houses, ought to reflect on their individual responsibility on their own safety — a point the Vice Mayor also raises in the questionnaire.
“City has done a lot in educating its residents on issues of disaster risk knowledge,” she says, and adds, “It’s time that residents take ownership of their [own] safety.”
Neno youths urged to venture into businesses
By Wellington Sibale
Neno, February 27, Mana: Partners in Health (PIH), popularly known as Abwezi Pa Zaumoyo, has encouraged youths in Neno district to utilize vocational skills and start their own businesses.
PIH Director of Community Health, Jimmy Harare, made the remarks on Tuesday during a graduation ceremony of 12 male youths who underwent vocational skills in tailoring, plumbing, brick laying, motor vehicle and motorcycle mechanic.
PIH gave the youth start-up tools, such as plumbing equipment, sewing machines, rolls of cloths, thread and motor cycle and vehicle tools boxes worth K24 million.
Harare said the youths were trained under the project called 'Programme on Social Economic Rights' (Poser) to ensure the adolescents’ economic empowerment through their enrolment in vocational skills.
“Empowering these youths economically through the vocational skills will give them a sound financial standing,” he said, adding that the programmme was introduced to compliment government efforts in empowering young people as government alone cannot manage.
In his remarks, Neno District Council Director of Planning and Development (DPD), Charles Lomoni, hailed PIH for the initiative, saying the council alone cannot manage to reach out to the youths in many areas in the district with vocational skills.
"We would like to appreciate the effort that Partners in Health have rendered to us because on our own as a council we cannot manage due to inadequate resources and insufficient budget," said Lomoni.
One of the youths, Reuben Baluwa, expressed gratitude following his graduation, saying he acquired mechanical skills that will help him to be economically independent.
“I didn't expect that I can be a mechanic. From today I will be a mechanic in my area and l will help my parents financially and will also repair people's vehicles,” said Baluwa.
Embracing community initiatives to conserve nature
By Salome Gangire
Neno, February 27, Mana: Dominic Kulani, 48, of Fred Village in the area of Traditional Authority Chekucheku was an unrepentant charcoal producer in his community, having indulged in the business for 15 years to sustain his family of six.
Dominic narrates how adamant he used to be to stop his charcoal trade despite the several challenges he encountered, all because he had no alternative source of income.
“I used to load a full truck with charcoal to sell in Blantyre. Mind you, this was not easy at all as I encountered problems, such as spending nights in the bush whilst hiding from forestry officers and as well as dangerous police chases as we were transporting charcoal to Blantyre,” Kulani says.
He adds that the experience was physically and emotionally draining but he still continued all in the name of fending for his family.
However, all this changed in August 2023 when he received Community Environmental Conservation Funds (CECF) amounting to K58,000 under the Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) whose objective is to increase the adoption of sustainable landscape management practices and improving watershed services in the targeted watersheds.
Moreover, the project also aims at diversifying people's livelihoods and food security as a result of increase in household income from both agriculture and small-scale enterprises with the support from the matching grants.
In Neno, the project is being implemented in Wamkulumadzi Catchment which has four sub catchments; namely Golden, Mkulumadzi, Chekucheku and Mfundazi with a total of 70 Village Level Action Plans for a period of six years.
In the spirit of motivating project participants, MWASIP provides CECF to help them uplift their livelihoods with small scale businesses whilst they are implementing various project activities.
From the K58,000 grant Kulani received, he stopped the illicit trade and invested the money in buying two goats and chickens which started producing manure which he eventually used in his crop field.
“I eventually started growing tomato and maize and I have been able to buy iron sheets ready to roof my house,” adds Dominic who is now a member of Village Natural Resources Management Committee (VNRMC).
He notes that the project has driven them to establish backyard woodlots in their respective homes apart from the project site.
“My plan is to plant trees on my one acre of land in this rainy season. The project has made me understand the evils of deforestation as evidenced by how rainfall pattern is in this 2023/24 agricultural season.
“I am now geared to plant trees everywhere they were destroyed as I have witnessed the side effects of deforestation but I will also be an ambassador, advocating against deforestation to others who are still cutting down trees for charcoal production,” he indicates.
Dominic is not the only one who has abandoned the illicit charcoal business. Maganizo Menyere was also involved in destroying the environment through charcoal business but has changed as he is into conserving the environment.
“MWASIP gave us the skills and the CECF has helped a lot of us to venture into meaningful businesses,” says Maganizo who is now into agri-business.
“After receiving K40,000, I bought some farm inputs like seed and fertilizer to start a garden. I also used the expertise gained from the project to make some organic manure.
“I am now into irrigation farming where I grow maize and tomatoes for sale, thereby helping me fend for my family,” says a visibly happy Maganizo.
Member of Parliament for Neno North, Thoko Tembo, expresses excitement with the funds, stating that it is a good incentive to the community as far as dealing with deforestation is concerned.
“The funds will help to restore the environment as communities have been empowered with capital to venture into good business that does not harm the environment.
“The problem has been that people had no capital and they resorted to cutting down trees as their capital by burning charcoal for sale which was disastrous to the environment,” notes Tembo.
MWASIP coordinator for Neno, Vincent Sambuka, discloses that they have disbursed a total of K170 million to all the four catchments to help project participants uplift their livelihoods with small scale businesses whilst they are implementing the project activities.
“The funds are given upon successful implementation of sustainable land management activities in their catchment area as an incentive to communities that have done well in sustainable land management activities whilst implementing the project so that they conserve the environment.
“The funds are provided in form of revolving fund and is used to provide micro-credit to community members involved in the village level action plan (VLAP) activities under MWASIP and is accessible to community members within the catchment area that are involved in the landscape restoration programmes,” Sambuka explained.
He, however, appeals to project participants to follow guidelines that have been determined by the communities so that the funds can grow and resources can reach more community members.
Chairperson for Chekucheku Catchment Management Committee, Steve Donda, says it is encouraging to see how people have embraced the funds and are repaying the loan in time.
“The VLAP distributes the money according to performance such that others received over K100,000 and for purposes of sustainability, they have opened an account where there is a committee and they have a 10 percent interest which is repaid after a period of six months,” Donda explains.
Donda attests to Dominic and Maganizo’s testimony of improved livelihoods, adding that they are indeed able to yield the fruits of CECF.
“People invested in small scale businesses, farming and now some are purchasing livestock and household properties and some people are repaying before the agreed time,” adds Donda.
On her part, District Commissioner for Neno, Rosemary Nawasha, urges beneficiaries to venture into meaningful enterprises that should transform their lives.
“The funds are primarily meant to improve people's lives as they are conserving the environment,” Nawasha emphasizes.
Neno is one of the districts in Malawi that is grappling with deforestation as most its forest reserves are under threat due to charcoal and timber production, and it is clear that initiatives like CECF are slowly changing people's mindset.
