By Manase Nyirenda

Johannesburg, August 21, Mana: Minister of Foreign affairs Nancy Tembo has said the BRICS will offer more access to developmental financing for Malawi, as the grouping focuses on economic development.

Tembo made the remarks on Monday on the sidelines of a meeting president Chakwera had with Malawian investors based in South Africa at Danvici Hotel in Johannesburg.

“The BRICS have huge ambitions for development financing and for the continent of Africa.  This gives us additional resources for financing projects in Malawi.

“That means Malawi will have a chance to tap into different funds for development in addition to the IMF and World Bank,” she said.

She said the president’s presence at the Summit will offer the government of Malawi a platform to engage the leaders of the BRICS on the challenges Malawi is facing.

The president is attending the summit on invitation by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa who is hosting the summit.

President Chakwera said he would take advantage of the summit to engage Malawi’s development partners on Malawi’s debts among others.

Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa (BRICS) is a grouping of five emerging world economies formed in 2006.

It accounts for a quarter of the world’s economy and at least 40 percent of the world’s economy.

Presidents of China, Xi jinping Brazil Lura Da Silva and India’s prime minister, Nalendra Modi respectively including many other invited delegates from different are also expected to attend.

Expansion of the BRICS is expected to feature highly at the meeting and Ramaphosa during his national address on Sunday said South Africa supports expansion of the BRICS.

The meeting officially opens on Tuesday, August 22 at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

By Regina Chirwa

Neno, August 19, Mana: Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Chaola Mdooko says inadequate learning and teaching materials in the education system is affecting delivery of quality and equitable education in the country.

Speaking Friday during the closing of the 7^th Neno Children’s parliament in Neno, Mdooko said it is the wish of the government to ensure that every child should access quality education by providing resources in schools.

She said government will build more school blocks to ease long distance problems which children are facing saying doing so can improve quality education.

"Ministry of education is not leaving any child behind because we want to improve quality of education in Malawi and Neno as district," said Mdooko.

A representative of the Children’s Parliament committee in Neno Promise Macheso said learners in the district are facing numerous challenges including long distances to access education.

"Government should consider building more schools to reduce long distances that are affecting learning process,” he said.

She therefore asked government to identify other partners since Save the children is phasing out its five year programme of Securing children’s rights through education and protection (SCREP) which has been supporting children’s parliament.

SCREP Project Team Leader Kenneth Harry Wala said the project has made huge impact among children by providing space to voice out their issues and also building capacity for them to speak in public.

The two-day meeting was funded by NORAD through Save the Children in conjunction with Community Action for Sustainable Development.

By Manasse Nyirenda

Lilongwe, August 19, Mana: President Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera has arrived in South Africa ahead of the five-member grouping of Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa (BRICS) meeting which officially opens on Tuesday, August, 22 at Sandston Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

President Chakwera arrived through Lanseria International Airport in the company of First Lady Monica Chakwera and was welcomed by Malawi's High Commissioner to South Africa, Stella Ndau and other South African delegates.

On arrival the president said the summit will provide the country an opportunity to engage development partners on ways of addressing debts.

"We will champion our cause with emerging and fellow developing markets through multilateral cooperation to rebalance the world’s economic and political tectonics and make the global system conducive for inclusive growth," he said.

The summit is being held under the theme "Brics Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development and Inclusive Multiteralism"

High on the agenda for the summit among others will include discussions on expanding the grouping's membership to include more countries.

So far a number of African States have expressed interest to join the grouping which include Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Tunisia, Senegal and Egypt among others.

By Joel Chirwa

Mzuzu, August 18, Mana: Vice President Dr. Saulosi Chilima has described the country's youth as an important asset that can contribute immensely to national development if their skills and energies are harnessed.

Speaking at Mzuzu Stadium on Friday when he headlined this year's International Youth Day, Chilima said government recognises the value of the youth hence it came up with a national development blueprint, Malawi 2063 which is youth-centered.

“Government has already set the pace by ensuring great involvement of the youths towards the implementation of our economic blueprint called Malawi 2063.

"We realise the importance of the youths as they constitute majority of the country population. I therefore also appeal to the private sector and international partners to invest more resources in youth development,” he said.

Youth Representative Salome Kadazi said the commemoration was an important event to the youth as it helped them celebrate their capabilities while recognising the challenges that are preventing them from realising their full potential.

"We are determined to use our energies, numbers and skills to move Malawi to the level of development aspired in Malawi 2063. However, for us to achieve all our aspirations, there are critical challenges which government and other stakeholders need to address," she said.

Among others, Kadazi said government and other stakeholders should improve learning by constructing adequate and improved learning structures in both primary and secondary schools and equip the learning institutions with adequate learning materials.

UNFPA Deputy County Representative, Dr. Ezizgeldi Hellenov said the youth are an essential capital for sustainable development and their demographic dividend should be grasped by investing in them and building their capabilities.

This year's International Youth Day was commemorated under the theme; "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World."

By Arnold Namanja

Blantyre, August 18, Mana: Blantyre City Council (BCC) disclosed that it has pumped in over K14 billion towards construction of roads to decongest traffic volume in the commercial city.

The roads which include the two kilometres (km) Chiwembe – Newlands – Manje at the cost of K1.8 billion, the 5km Makhetha – Ndirande to the tune of K3.3 billion and the 1.2km stretch from Chipatala to Kamba Market have constructed with support from the Roads Fund Administration and the Malawi Government.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana), BCC, Director of Engineering Services, Chimwemwe Mndelemani said the local authority embarked on the road infrastructure improvement programme to keep in tune with the Malawi 2063 Agenda, adding that the transport sector is one of the key priority areas in the agenda.

“We secured funds from the Roads Fund Administration and the Treasury for the road projects. We would like to complement government in fulfilling its Malawi 2063 Agenda. But most importantly, we want to ensure a seamless flow of traffic in the city by decongesting some of the major roads,” Mndelemani said.

Mndelemani added that most of the roads under construction in the city will be opened to traffic by September this year, noting that completion of Makhetha – Ndirande Road has delayed due to some logistical issues.

“The Makhetha Road has delayed more than the rest because we had some issues with the community which meant we had to start the project seven months later than scheduled; but we are optimistic to complete on time,” he said.

The director said fuel shortage and economic issues were set back in the implementation of the road project at Makhetha.

“Fuel shortage and inflation in the course of the project implementation also affected most of the contractors and as a result that has had an impact on the delivery of the projects,” he added.

Mndelemani added that all the contractors have been instructed to install solar street streets to add to the beauty of the city as well as enhance city’s security. 

He said upon completing the six roads, the council will then embark on nine new projects within the 2023- 2024 national budget.

Some of the contractors entrusted with the work are CAS Civil Engineering for Namiwawa _ Sunnyside Road, Top Range Contractor was building the Lali-Lubani – Kenyatta Drive Road while Dika was awarded the Makhetha – Ndirande Road, among others.         

One of the motorists, Yamikani Chinomba of Makhetha Township expressed happiness with the new roads being constructed in the city, saying the roads will help in decongesting the volume of traffic in busiest roads of the roads especially during peak hours of the day.

“Blantyre City Council should be commended for the road projects spread across the city. It will go a long way in easing traffic and travelling from home to town will be much faster and easier,” he said. “In fact, the roads, clearly marked, will add beauty to the city.”

By Zenak Matekenya in Luanda, Angola

Luanda, Augst 17, Mana: Angola President Joao Manuel Gonvalves Lourenco has taken over the Sothern Africa Development Community (SADC) Chairmanship from Felix Antoine Tshiseked, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the 43^rd Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Angola.

Malawi President Dr Lazarus Chakwera is in attendance of the summit which runs between August 17 and 18, 2023 under the theme “Human and Financial Capital: The Key Drivers for Sustainable Industrialisation in the SADC Region”.

In his acceptance speech on Thursday, President Lourenco said SADC has great potential to attain meaningful development through human and financial capital investment.

Lourenco observed that enhanced industrialisation and market integration programs are critical for the region’s wellbeing.

Outgoing SADC Chairperson, DRC President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi described the theme as key to the implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap to help the region get away from dependence syndrome.

He said the region has potential to diversify its economies if it focuses on adding high value on its manufactured goods.

“As proposed by the incoming Chair, the theme will enable our region to continue to drive the industrialisation agenda forward by developing, mobilising and harnessing human and financial capital.

“As a united regional community of 16 member states, with a combined gross domestic product of around US$720 billion and a total population of over 360 million, 75 percent of whom are young people, we have a market with considerable potential for investment and economic development,” he said.

He added that SADC oneness has led to relative enjoyment of stable peace and security despite recurrent threats to the security in the DRC and Mozambique where armed groups continue to cause untold suffering among civilians, particularly women and children.

“Despite some challenges, our region continues to do well as shown by the African Union Commission's Multidimensional Regional Integration Index which gave SADC a high score for regional integration, particularly in terms of financial, infrastructural, trade and environmental integration,” he said.

He commended and encouraged SADC member state officials, including SADC Ambassadors and High Commissioners around the world, as well as the media to intensify their efforts to raise awareness of SADC’s roles, mandate and achievements.

During the session two Malawians, Lisa Malango and Viveck Orlando received award of US$1000 for scooping second position in SADC Media Awards photograph category and US$ 2000 for scooping position one in the 2023 SADC Tertiary Institution Essay Earning Awards.

SADC Executive Secretary Elias Mpedi Magosi emphasised on the need for the region to fast track integration, industrialisation and opening easy access to markets within the region and beyond. 

Mana/zm/pk

By George Mponda

Mzuzu,17 August, Mana: Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima Thursday arrived in Mzuzu where he will attend the commemoration of the International Youth Day at Mzuzu Stadium.

The event will be held Friday under the theme 'Green Skills for Youths Towards a Sustainable World’.

In an interview, District Youth Officer for Mzimba North Mischek Msukwa said the event is meant to encourage youths in the country to take a leading role in efforts to reverse the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change.

By Esther Ndhlozi

Mzuzu, August 17, Mana: Members of the general public and business operators who include taxi drivers in Mzuzu have applauded government for putting measures geared at stabilizing fuel availability

The development follows a press briefing which was hosted on Wednesday by Minister of Information and Digitalization who is also Government Spokesperson, Moses Kunkuyu where he disclosed that the National Oil Company of Malawi, government has acquired $50 million (about K52 billion) loan from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Badea) for restocking the country’s fuel reserves.

In an interview, one of the taxi operators, Saulos Tembo said that the development will go a long way in addressing transport challenges caused by fuel crisis which has recently rocked the country.

 “Our business was becoming tougher by the day and could not raise profits due to the crisis and we spent most of our time on fuel queues, hence failing to meet the targeted daily amount of money which each of us is supposed to give to our employers besides failing to fend for our families,” said Tembo.

Concurring with Tembo, a farmer, Gift Phiri also commended government for the intervention saying he stopped visiting his field which is in the outskirts of Mzuzu City sometime back due to skyrocketed transport costs.

Speaking during the press briefing, Kunkuyu said government is working tirelessly to resolve the situation crisis.

“We have managed to acquire 7.1 million liters of fuel from outside the country despite forex availability challenges. This fuel will soon be in the country,” Kunkuyu said.

 Kunkuyu said government has explored new mode of getting the fuel into the country, one of which is the use of trains, which he said has proven to be effective.

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Blantyre, August 17, Mana: In a bid to continue providing its customers with exceptional customer service and support as well as transforming the board's operations into an effective and efficient utility, Blantyre Water Board (BWB) on Thursday  launched Madzi App and Sustaining the Flow of Life and Development (SLD) programme.  

Presiding over the launch in Blantyre, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation Liana Kakhobwe Chapota said for a nation to develop, there is need to start embracing Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in line with the 2063 agenda. 

"ICT is one of the enabler if the country is to realise 2063 vision, so as a ministry we are also applauding BWB for responding to the National Water Policy of 2023 which would like all the institutions in the water sector to use ICT as one of the things that can make service delivery easy to the customers," said Chapota. 

Chapota said the Madzi App will ensure that both postpaid and pre-paid customers are conveniently assisted with bill payments, token balances, fault reporting, interruption notices and many other essential services.

 "On the other hand, the SLD Programme’s goal is to modernize and turn around Water Board's operations so that it can be transformed into an efficient and effective utility," she said.

BWB's Board Chairperson Joe Ching'ani said in a world of constant change, it is important for businesses to adapt and embrace innovations. 

"Our app signifies our dedication to staying relevant, offering cutting-edge solutions and simplifying complex processes. It is a step towards a more efficient, connected, and digitally empowered future.

"Our parastatal has consistently strived to stay at the forefront of advancements and modernity. We understand that convenience and accessibility are paramount, and that is precisely what our new mobile app brings to the table," said Ching'ani. 

He added that the SLD programme focuses to change mindset for BWB members of staff to deliver excellent services and turnaround the way of doing things.

"It is no longer business as usual but providing our customers with exceptional services," said Chingani. 

Twimepoki Mangani

Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu says stable stocks of diesel and petrol will be achieved by the weekend as 3,617 million litres of diesel and 3,507 million litres of petrol which represents a 4.2 days’ cover is making its way into the country.

The Minister made the remarks Wednesday during a press briefing at the Centre of Information (COI) in Lilongwe where he was updating the nation on the position of fuel.

The Minister highlighted that the daily consumption of fuel has shot up to two million litres for diesel and petrol from 1.7 million litres because people are buying out of anticipation of stock outs.

He said the volumes currently available can provide cover for two days.

“What is being processed at the ports right now is 3,354 million litres of diesel and 9,080 million litres of petrol which represents a 60 percent of total imports since 1^st August,” he said.

Kunkuyu said the major challenges of the fuel shortage has been forex which the Ministry of Finance is working on to extend the credit facility.

He revealed a supply deterioration in July when there was a day of up to 80 days in offloading 25,000 metric tonnes of fuel at the port of Beira which affected transit of the product.

 “The issues of lack of letters of credit for banks to process the letters owning to our positon economically has been a challenge as mitigating factor National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) has secured public credit from contracting supplies to about US$50 million (approximately K50 billion),” he said.

Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) Chief Executive Officer, Henry Kachaje highlighted that processes are underway to have Petroleum Importers Limited upscale the volumes they bring into the country so that NOCMA’s volumes go directly into the reserves and not into filling stations.

NOCMA Chief Executive Officer, Clement Kanyama said efforts to enhance use of Nacala- Blantyre railway are being considered.

He said while the challenge is that there is one major storage facility connected to the rail way, the Government of Mozambique has given Malawi land to develop storage facilities which will aid with the necessary quantities.

He also noted that the Beira route had challenges due to issues of natural disaster and that the Government of Mozambique will give priority to cargo that is coming to Malawi through the same route.

NOCMA with the aid of government and other development partners is hopeful that the strategic fuel reserves will be filled before September as necessary processes are underway.