MANAonline
MRA upbeat with the rehab of Beira-Marka railway line
By Arnold Namanja
Nsanje, September 4, Mana: Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) has said rehabilitation of the Beira-Marka railway line in Nsanje District is expected to increase volume of trade between Malawi and Mozambique.
MRA Marketing Communications Manager, Wilma Chalulu made the observation on Wednesday when the tax collection body took editors from the Southern region on a tour to Marka-Nyathando Border Post in the district.
Chalulu said once the rehabilitation of the railway line at the border is completed, it would increase the volume of trade between Malawi and Mozambique while enhancing revenue collection for MRA at the same time.
“Already we have been collecting some revenue from traders doing business on this border which is expected to be even higher once the facility is fully rehabilitated,” she added.
Chalulu said MRA, on its part, will construct decent houses at the border post to create a good working environment and motivate staff at the borderline.
On addressing the challenge of smuggling, she said MRA continues engaging communities with the involvement of local leaders on the disadvantages of evading tax at the expense of national development.
“In collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, we constantly sensitize communities and empower them to join in the fight against smuggling. Of course, smuggling is a big challenge and its fight is ongoing,” Chalulu added.
Meanwhile, the railway line has already facilitated the importation of construction materials as well as raw materials for China Railways 20 Company and Prescane, respectively, underscoring its potential.
Speaking in an interview, Malawi editor's forum General Secretary, Gracian Tukwila said the tour was necessary for editors as gatekeepers to be on top of things.
“Editors need to be updated regularly about the latest developments happening in various sectors of our economy. This tour could not have come at any better time than now when rail transportation has proved to be cost-effective,” Tukula said.
Malawi is a signatory to regional and continental pacts such as the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, Southern Africa Development Community and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa which strives to make borders seamless to facilitate easy and legitimate movement of goods and services.
Malawi and China sign K50 billion Judicial Complex construction deal
By Chikondi Chimala, in Beijing, China
Beijing, September 4: Mana: The governments of Malawi and China Tuesday signed a K50 billion financing agreement for the construction of the Judicial Complex in Lilongwe.
Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Simplex Chithyola-Banda signed the agreement on behalf of the Malawi government and described the agreement as a fitting gift from the Chinese government to the people of Malawi.
The minister said the grant financing which is worth Chinese RMB 200 million translating to over USD 30 million (about K50 billion) will aid the transformation of Malawi.
In an interview with the Malawi News Agency (Mana), Chithyola-Banda said that Chinese President Xi JinPing informed President Dr Lazarus Chakwera about the grant financing of the Judicial Complex during their bilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People held on Tuesday morning.
“I am happy that I have signed this agreement on behalf of the Malawi government that will see our judicially operate from modern buildings that will house quite many offices including courtrooms which is a positive development.”
“The onus to start work on the Judicial Complex that will be constructed in Lilongwe opposite the Parliament Building is now on my ministry which will work to fastback its operationalization with the stakeholders in China to make sure disbursements are done so that the work can start soon,” said Chithyola Banda.
The Finance Minister also said aside from changing the face of Lilongwe, the project will contribute to the socio-economic development of the country, as it will see several Malawians getting employed on the project and others supplying goods and services as well.
Chithyola-Banda said the commitment of the Chinese government to fund the project is a result of focused leadership that has prioritized building good relations with other countries as already seen by the designation of Malawi as a strategic partner by the Chinese Government
Signing on behalf of the Chinese government was Long Zhou who is the Chinese Ambassador to Malawi who said his government would see to it that the project runs its full course and that the relations between the two countries grow from strength to strength.
The signing agreement took place on the sidelines of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit which is being attended by President Dr Lazarus Chakwera and will among others focus on building relations and cooperation in supporting Africa’s industrialization, energy and trade as a priority, talent development, accelerating agricultural modernization, agenda 2063 of the African Union, modernization and mutual learning among civilizations, political, peace, and security cooperation as well as poverty reduction.
Focac was instituted in 2000 to foster relations between China and the 53 African nations and the African Union (AU) and is held every six years while the minister’s conference is held every three years.
Social cash transfer bails people out of poverty
By Manasse Nyirenda
Rumphi, September 3, Mana: Social Cash Transfer Programme beneficiaries in Rumphi have praised the programme for bailing them out of extreme poverty.
In an interview on Monday, one of the beneficiaries, Lucy Nyasulu from Madumura Village in Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe said her family was trapped in deep poverty before being selected to be one of the beneficiaries.
"At the time I became a beneficiary, we were living in a shack and struggling to find food for our family. But once we got enrolled, we worked very hard to transform our lives for the better by venturing into farming using Social cash transfer money," she said.
She said she joined village loans and savings groups which made her earn interest on her savings which she later invested in farming.
She has since earned over K5 million from tobacco farming and has built a house and also owns a hair salon business.
The 31-year-old mother of three is now focusing on growing more tobacco to earn more money and transform her home’s well-being.
Another beneficiary, Fyness Kayira from Nthumbatumba Village in Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe said the programme is her lifeline.
"I am now under the care of my grandchildren who are not well-to-do. I lost my husband and all my children who were supporting me. I cannot imagine how I would survive without this money I get. The money helps me to meet my needs," she said.
On her part, Mayilesi Gumbo, 42, from Chilakata Village says she invested part of her receipts in piggery farming and now owns 10 pigs.
She added that her household is now food secure and that she and her husband can meet their needs including four children.
District Social Welfare Officer for Rumphi, Zindaba Lungu says many beneficiaries on the programme have built decent houses, bought livestock and own thriving businesses which have helped lessen the burden of poverty in the communities.
Social Cash Transfer Programme is a Malawi Government programme under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods (SSRLP).
It is funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF), the World Bank and the Malawi Government and coordinated by the National Local Government Finance Committee.
Nkhotakota VSL Groups Embrace Digital Financial Services
By Wongani Mkandawire.
Nkhotakota, September 4, Mana: Village savings and loan groups in Nkhotakota have expressed satisfaction with the digital financial services that the Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) is advocating for in the district.
Speaking to Malawi News Agency on Wednesday during an awareness campaign in the district, Moses Chiwali a poultry farmer in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Mwansambo in the district said, the digital financial mobile services are safe in case of any eventualities.
“My business is straightforward, give and take and I recommend mobile money because I do not have to wonder about safe storage of my money,” said Chiwali.
Another trader Tamara Banda from T/A Mwansambo said mobile money transfer is efficient and saves everyone time and has simplified distant trading in the district because money can just be sent and receive goods after receipt of payment.
“These days one does not need to travel to Lilongwe and order things but can simply send money through Airtel money or Mpamba and your supplier will ship your order without you travelling and this makes life easier,” said Banda.
Nkhotakota District Council community development officer Elina Lucas said it is impressive that many village savings and loan groups are migrating to digital financial services from the old-school method of keeping money in hard cash at meetings which was risky.
The reserve bank in partnership with AC Consulting is conducting an awareness campaign on digital financial services targeting different communities around the country.
CS-EPWP beneficiaries urged to join village bank groups
By Eranivey Temani
Lilongwe, September 04, Mana: The new Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CS-EPWP) beneficiaries of Biwi village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chiseka have been urged to join village bank groups so that they save part of the money for future use.
Speaking on Tuesday at Badwa Primary School, Lilongwe District Council Assistant Community Development Officer Gladys Kalumbi said saving money under Community Savings and Investment Promotion (COMSIP) can assist the beneficiaries when they are hit by some challenges caused by the effects of climate change.
“Money will never be enough, but it takes commitment for one to start saving for future use. We have seen many people achieving their goals after joining village banks, Village Savings Loan (VSLs) and Comsip groups, you too, can do better,” she said.
Kalumbi further urged the beneficiaries to put into good use of any money, which they will receive by among other things starting small-scale businesses, which will later assist them in transforming their livelihood.
One of the new CS-EPWP beneficiaries Christina Bumani of Watison village expressed excitement over COMSIP group formation in her area, saying she has just been hearing of the initiative.
“This is good news to us, as we will be able to save our money and start a revolving loan amongst ourselves, an initiative I am sure will transform our lives,” she said.
Bumani then asked her fellow members to take whatsoever they have learnt seriously, so that they see the benefit of saving culture.
CS-EPWP is a World Bank-funded project and is being implemented by the government through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) in all 28 districts.
Communities appeal for more health workers at Ligowe Health Centre
By Salome Gangire
Neno, September 04, Mana: Communities surrounding Ligowe Health Center in the area of Traditional Authority Mlauli in Neno District have appealed District Health Office to deploy an additional clinician at the facility to improve service delivery.
Chairperson of the Community Voice and Action group, Damiano Khosomani, appealed on Tuesday during an interface meeting organized by the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust under the three-year Boma Lathu project, funded by the European Union.
He stated that the health facility currently has only one clinician, which strains service delivery due to the high number of patients.
“We have only one clinician here which results in patients spending more time in the queue before receiving assistance,” Khosomani said.
He added that patients experience prolonged waiting times at the hospital as it serves more than 15 villages.
Chairperson of Mlauli Area Development Committee (ADC), Yasintha Kafaniza noted that staff shortage forces the clinician to work long hours, compromising the quality of care provided due to fatigue.
In response, District Health Office (DHO) representative Henderson Mitepa announced that an additional clinician will be deployed to the health center to enhance staff capacity.
“Ligowe Health Centre has been assigned one more clinician to strengthen the team and address the staffing gap, making it the only health centre in the district with two clinicians,” he said.
NICE District Programmes Officer for Neno, Walace Kudzala explained that the interface meeting was aimed at providing a platform for citizens and marginalized groups to voice their challenges to the duty bearers and for the duty bearers to respond to their obligations.
“It is the responsibility of communities to demand their rights and ensure transparency and accountability,” Kudzala said.
He highlighted that there is often a lack of accountability from duty bearers in service delivery and limited responsiveness to community concerns.
Traditional Authority Mlauli expressed gratitude to NICE for organizing the interface, stating that it offered a valuable forum for resolving community issues with the relevant authorities.
Serengeti energy plans to expand
By Damiano Thengo
Nkhotakota, September 4, Mana: Serengeti Energy, a private solar energy generation company has disclosed that they intend to develop another solar power plant in Nkhotakota to complement their current power plant in the district.
Speaking during a media tour at the plant, Plant Manager Paul Mhango said they have already acquired land that is just adjacent to their current plant and are at an advanced planning stage for the construction of the second plant.
“The land acquisition was already done but there are other issues to close out before we can set a date and negotiate other terms like the capacity of energy to be produced at this plant.” Said Mhango.
Currently, Serengeti energy company through its solar plant in the district, generates and contributes 21 Megawatts to the national grid through its power purchase agreement with the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM).
Nkhotakota district council spokesperson Wongani Mkandawire said, as a council, they commend Serengeti energy and have always been supportive because not only does the country benefit through the electricity added to the grid but also people in the district benefit through employment at the plant and other corporate social responsibility programmes that the company implements around the community.
The government through the Ministry of Energy is currently implementing various projects around the country aimed at increasing power production to combat power shortages.
Association empowers communities to conserve wildlife
By Richard Kagunda
Kasungu, September 4, Mana: Kasungu Wildlife Conservation for Community Development Association on Tuesday launched a pilot phase of Forest Natural Regeneration and Agroforestry project in the area of Sub Traditional Authority Chisinga in the district.
The association's Board Chairperson Malidadi Langa said the livelihood-centered project is focusing on integration of agroforestry as well as village forest management.
Langa said the project aims to ensure that people have their forest resources in their communities thereby increasing agriculture productivity from the existing farm plots while addressing food insecurity challenges.
It is hoped that when people are economically empowered and are food secure, they will stop depending on the nearby Kasungu National Park as a source of livelihood.
"Conservation of Kasungu National Park is in two components which are wildlife on one hand and livelihood on the other.
"In this project, we have embarked on livelihood component as we want to empower communities economically by giving them alternative sources of income whilst conserving our national park," he said.
While commending the association for the project, the district's Director of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Evelyn Chima bemoaned the increased rate of environmental degradation in the district allegedly perpetrated by tobacco farming as well as the opening of new land for farming.
Chima called for concerted efforts among stakeholders in environmental conservation and landscape restoration arguing government alone cannot manage.
"We have seen that this organization is doing a commendable job in conserving the environment and landscape restoration.
"As a council, we have observed that tobacco farming and opening of new farms are some of the serious challenges haunting landscape restoration in our district hence the need for concerted effort to achieve this.
"This is why we commend the association for coming up with this project which will not only help in landscape restoration but also conserve wildlife in the park," Chima said.
In her remarks, Assistant Director for Environmental Education and Extension Services at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife, Catherine Chunga stressed the significance of conserving national parks saying they boost ecotourism, leading to economic benefits for local communities.
"Apart from agriculture, the project will also help to empower communities economically through beekeeping hence the need for commitment among community members," she said.
At least 350,000 people live near Kasungu National Park boundaries and some of them depend on the park products as a source of livelihood.
About 20 000 households are expected to benefit from the pilot phase of the project which is being funded by Biodiversity and Protected Areas Management Program (BIOPAMA) under International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Japan commits to improving health services in Malawi
By Vincent Chauma
Kasungu, September 4, Mana: Japanese government has reaffirmed its commitment to support Malawi's efforts to improve its healthcare services, recognizing the importance of citizens' well-being in achieving the Malawi 2063 vision.
Japanese Ambassador to Malawi, Yoichi Oya said this during the official opening of Kapichira Health Centre in area of Sub-Traditional Authority Kachipira in Kasungu District.
Oya emphasized that Universal Health Coverage is crucial for human dignity and that the health and well-being of Malawians are essential for development, as outlined in the Malawi 2063.
"Malawi is facing so many challenges. As the government of Japan, Malawi is very good partner. So, we are supporting this country to overcome some of the challenges it faces," he said.
"There is great hope that this health facility will alleviate challenges faced by communities, particularly pregnant women, in accessing quality healthcare services," he added.
The ambassador also expressed hope that the facility will be well utilized and sustained, to be serving as a symbol of the friendship between Japan and Malawi.
Deputy Minister of Health, Halima Daudi, thanked the Japanese government for the support, highlighting that equitable healthcare is a priority of the Chakwera-led government.
She assured that President Lazarus Chakwera will maintain good working relationships with development partners to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
"The government plans to construct many health facilities to ensure that people easily access quality healthcare services," she said.
Kapichira Health Centre, which has maternity, running water, electricity and staff houses, will serve a population of at least 15,000 people, bringing the total number of health facilities in Kasungu District to 38.
JICA urges utility companies to draw action on non-revenue water
By Leonard Masauli
Lilongwe, September 4, Mana: Japan International Cooperation Agency has urged utility companies to draw action on non-revenue water for them to maximize revenue collection.
This was said on Tuesday during an opening ceremony for a Three-day-Water Utility Regional Partnerships Workshop (WURP) at Bingu Internation Convention Centre, meant to strengthen the capacity of non-revenue water reduction for Lilongwe Water Board.
Representative of Jica in Malawi, Kazuhiro Tambara said water utilities especially in Sub-Sahara Africa are facing challenges and among them is non-revenue water which he said requires collective action to solve the problem.
“This workshop is meant for experience and knowledge sharing. The expanded partnership between Malawi, Kenya and Rwanda into a three-way agreement shall pave way to enhance improvement and growth.
“The partnership will also facilitate solutions to the challenges among the member utilities based on their collective expertise to ensure reduction of non-revenue water and increase on revenue,” said Tambara.
Chief Executive Officer for Lilongwe Water Board (LWB), Silli Mbewe said with assistance from Jica, Lilongwe Water Board is implementing a project to strengthen the capacity of non-revenue water reduction to maximize revenue.
Deputy Director of Administration in the Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Masauko Manyunya said the Malawi 2063 agenda aims at providing clean water and sanitation services to the country and hence the partnerships will ensure knowledge sharing and experiences that will help reduce non-revenue water among the utility companies.
The 5th WURP is hosted by LWB after Kenya and Rwanda in 2019 and 2023 respectively.
