MANAonline
Chakwera departs Mozambique-describes trip successful.
By Fostina Mkandawire
Maputo, August 15, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday afternoon left Maputo in the Republic of Mozambique after a two-day tour of duty, which led into the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will enhance access to electricity as well as reducing the landing cost of fuel in Malawi.
While in Mozambique, Chakwera held bilateral talks with Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi and was a conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree centred on improving and fostering cross boarder trading activities between the two countries.
The President was seen off at Maputo International Airport by Malawi High Commissioner to Mozambique, Wezi Moyo; Mozambican Minister of Mineral and Energy Energy, Carlos Zacarias, Malawi's Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola and top government officials from Mozambique and Malawi.
President Chakwera described the signing of the MoU and also his visit to Mozambique as "pleasant, memorable and successful," stressing that it will help reduce pump prices while also helping increase access to electricity across the country.
"It is pleasing to note that bilateral relations between Malawi and Mozambique are now stronger than ever and our people will mutually benefit from the strengthened bilateral relations," Chakwera said.
While in Mozambique, President Chakwera on Wednesday toured the Mozambican industrial area called Moz Park to appreciate trading activities being implemented by the Mozambican Government.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) Chief Executive Officer, Clement Kanyama said the signed fuel agreement will help in lowering the landing cost of fuel in Malawi in the long-run.
"Nacala to Lilongwe is just 36 hours, and the same volume from Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) takes four to five days which means that with the agreement in place, we can now save more money as we will have more fuel flowing into the country by rail," he said.
President Chakwera, will proceed to Harare, the Republic of Zimbabwe, to attend the 44 Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Committee of Heads of State and Government to be held on Saturday, 17 August, 2024.
Maranatha offers scholarship to a Lilongwe based girl
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, August 15, Mana: A young resident of Ntandire in Lilongwe, Bridget Chimaliro, aged 21, has been granted a full scholarship by Maranatha Private Academy after her commendation of the school on Facebook captured the attention of the proprietor, Dr. Ernest Kaonga.
This development transpired after a post by the Makosana page commending the uniforms of the students at Maranatha Girls Academy, to which Bridget concurred and expressed her desire to acquire a similar uniform so she could proudly showcase her affiliation with the institution.
In her remark, she pondered, "Is it considered inappropriate to don school attire?"
Upon encountering her comment, Dr. Kaonga, the director of Maranatha Academy, was compelled to extend a comprehensive scholarship to the second-year student, encompassing tuition fees, uniforms, books, and all other educational expenses until the culmination of her secondary education.
"I was elated by her expressions of gratitude towards our institution and her aspiration to don our colours. Sincerely, I endeavored to locate her myself and ensure she realized her ambition of wearing a Maranatha uniform.
"I firmly believe she is deserving of this opportunity and I trust that she will maximize its benefits. The time is now hers," expressed Dr. Kaonga.
Nevertheless, Dr. Kaonga said discussions are underway with the guardians of the girl to formalize the scholarship agreement for their ward.
Within his establishments, Dr. Kaonga has been facilitating secondary education opportunities for both male and female students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those in need, in alignment with the government's initiatives to advance the educational sector.
In June 2022, the administration at Maranatha Private Academy pledged to furnish full scholarships to 40 female students from the Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) and other educational institutions after a courtesy visit by Malawi's first lady, Monica Chakwera, who serves as the chairperson of SOFF's board.
Five arrested for murder in Dowa
By Sylvester Kumwenda
Dowa, August 15, Mana: Police in Dowa have arrested five people suspected to have murdered Ephraim Fradson aged 18 on August 7, 2024, at Mgwandali village, on suspicion that the deceased was dating a girl which one of the suspects was also in love with.
Dowa Police Station Public Relations Officer, Alice Sitima has identified the suspects as Malekano Julius aged 22, Stonard James aged 21, Mavuto John, 30, Misheck Julius aged, 24, and 18-year-old Yudas James.
Sitima said the father of the deceased reported that the victim had on the day attended a chieftaincy ceremony in Chiwale village.
'Fradson had attended a chieftaincy ceremony earlier in the day but was later found lying in a pool of blood by Isiah Matison, who had noticed a group of children gathered in a certain area.
"Witnesses reported that four individuals had assaulted Fradson, leaving him unconscious. Eventually, Fradson's relatives rushed him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival," he said.
Sitima said postmortem results revealed that the cause of death was a head injury and basal skull fracture.
"Police investigations led to the arrest of the suspects who will appear before court soon to answer a murder charge levelled against them," she said.
All the suspects hail from Goma village, Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa district.
Malawi Assemblies of God Church set for annual conference
By Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, August 15, Mana: The Malawi Assemblies of God Church says it is set to host its annual conference slated for August 20-23, 2024 at the Sheaffer Conference Centre in Lilongwe.
General Secretary for the Church, Dr. Matilda Matabwa told Malawi News Agency (Mana) in an interview on Wednesday that the upcoming annual conference will be held under the theme ‘Anchoring Perpetual Relevance’ which signifies the church’s commitment in promoting its values and mission.
“The theme signifies our commitment to firmly grounding our church’s core values and mission, ensuring they remain impactful and meaningful in a constantly evolving world.
“It reflects our dedication to preserving the essence of our faith while engaging effectively with the present and future challenges of our community,” Matabwa said.
She added that the keynote speaker for the forthcoming conference will be; Bishop Dr. Andrew Dube, the President of the Malawi Assemblies of God who will be joined by Reverend Alan Dickson from Gabon which she said will add a unique dimension to the conference.
She also said that each evening from August 20 to 23, 2024 will be marked by a powerful revival services starting at 6PM.
According to her, the services are designed to make the patrons ignite a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit as well as providing them with space for profound spiritual renewal.
Also commenting on the same in a separate interview Malawi Assemblies of God Church Events Committee Chairperson, Wezi Kamthunzi said the forthcoming general assembly promises to be a remarkable experience and invited the public to patronize the event in their large numbers.
“We are extending a warm invitation to the general public to join us for the evening revival sessions, these services are open to all who seek a deeper connection with God and a renewed sense of purpose,” she said.
During the annual conference, the Assemblies of God Church is expected to usher in new leaders who will take up the mantle of guiding the church in the next four years.
No woman should die while giving life - Daudi
By Tamala Kamanga
Dowa, August 15, Mana: Deputy Minister of Health Halima Daudi has called for concerted efforts to end maternal deaths in the country.
Daudi was speaking Wednesday in Dowa district during the launch of the Lightning Every Birth (LEB) by We Care Solar at Dzoole Health Centre in Traditional Authority Dzoole.
The project aims to improve maternal and newborn outcomes by alleviating electricity challenges at the facility through solar-generated power.
She said life is a blessing and as such no woman should die while giving birth, a thing which can be achieved through collaborative effort.
"One challenge is that many health facilities in remote areas of the country have no electricity and health workers are having difficulties when helping mothers to deliver. In some instances, they even use candles and phone torches for lighting, which is worrisome and dangerous as well.
"As a ministry, we are doing all we can to end these problems but we need all the help we can get from stakeholders. That is why we are very grateful for this development because it will go a long way in improving maternal services in this area and help save lives," she said.
She then thanked We Care for the donation and called for similar interventions to other facilities.
Executive Director and Co-founder of We Care Solar Dr, Laura Stachel said Africa faces high maternal deaths due to energy challenges in health facilities, rendering health workers to provide life-saving care in poor conditions.
Like in Malawi, she said the provision of continuous electricity in rural health facilities has also been a challenge, hence the donation.
"Our goal is to empower health workers with the tools they need to provide quality care even in the most remote areas. These solar lights are more than a source of illumination but also a beacon of hope to mothers and newborn babies in the remotest areas in Malawi," said Stachel.
Member of Parliament for Dowa West, Abel Kayembe has since commended the organization for the gesture.
"In most of our maternity wings, we do not have ESCOM electricity. Therefore, the collaboration of this organization and the Malawi government under the Ministry of Health to install modern solar equipment is a good development and it will bring a great change," he said.
He then asked community members to own the equipment and avoid vandalism.
Apart from solar accessories, the solar suitcase also comes with two rechargeable headlamps, a fetal doppler with rechargeable batteries and a manual book.
African Parks bemoans illegal mining
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, August 15, Mana: African Parks says it fears there will be increased illegal gold mining activities in Nkhotakota Game Reserve during the coming dry months of the year as water levels in Bua River recede.
Park Manager for Nkhotakota Game Reserve, Davie Nangoma, told a wildlife stakeholders meeting in Kasungu on Wednesday that illegal mining activities are rampant as people invade the protected area panning gold deposits in Bua river.
“Gold mining activities are very destructive to the ecosystem and our intelligence shows that the activities will increase as we are approaching drier months of the year.
“We are calling on the police and the judiciary for more support. We may also consider engaging the Malawi Defense Force so that we deal with the problem,” Nangoma said.
However, Nangoma said cases of vandalism have gone down in 2024 as compared to 2023 as only seven kilometres of the perimeter fence has been vandalized against last year’s 29 kilometres.
He said African Parks has invested in more hospitality infrastructure within Nkhotakota Game Reserve citing the completion of Livwezi Bush Camp which is now operational and Navunde Tourism Stop-Over which is still under construction.
During the meeting, various stakeholders expressed concern that the laws of the country do not provide compensation to victims of human-animal conflict, specifically in cases where animals kill or injure people and destroy crops.
Member of Parliament for Kasungu East, Madalitso Kazombo, said there is need for the park authorities to conduct a study on how other countries are managing such cases so that legislators are guided on whether there is a need to change the law.
He said: “We need to be guided if there is a need to change the laws on compensation because I understand that laws must be progressive, active and able to solve people’s challenges.
“We should protect our people but at the same time we do not want to create laws that will negatively affect tourism, so we need to be guided so that we learn on how we can proceed.”
In most southern and east African countries, laws do not provide for compensation to victims of human and wildlife conflicts.
In her remarks, Kasungu District Council Chairperson, Mwambilaso Mbedza said tourism is one of the government’s priority areas hence the need for stakeholders to be in the same direction to ensure that parks and game reserves are protected.
Nkhotakota is the country’s oldest and largest game reserve and was home to over 1,500 elephants, but the population fell to less than 100 in 2015, forcing authorities to translocate 500 elephants from Liwonde and Majete in 2017.
Through conservation works, African Parks has also brought in 850 different species of animals to improve animal sightings and attract more tourists.
IFA supplements, key to keeping girls in school
By Lisa Lamya
Blantyre, August 15, Mana: In a bid to prevent iron deficiency and anaemia in adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 19, a German KFW funded project is providing the girls with Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplements.
The development is said to be addressing the problem of absenteeism among female learners especially during their menstrual period.
Ivy Mbalame, a Standard 8 learner at Mwayi Primary School in Mgalamadzi Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Machinjiri in Blantyre told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on the side-lines of a media tour that ever since she started taking the tablets her well-being has improved.
“During our menstruation period, we lose some essential nutrients but we get iron tablets which replenish those lost nutrients,” Mbalame said.
Before receiving the tablets, the girls are given nutritious porridge, according to Eveless Ntope, a Sanitation Health and Nutrition (SHN) teacher at Mwayi Primary school.
“It is difficult for some families to provide nutritious food to their children, as such we give them IFA supplements so that they reduce the risk of developing iron deficiency and anaemia,” Ntope said.
Ntope said the learners receive IFA supplements once a week.
The KFW project is being implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund in collaboration with Farmers Union of Malawi and Malawi Government.
Construction of one storey Thyolo Boma Primary School begins
By Yamikani Yapuwa
Thyolo, August 15, Mana: In a bid to alleviate the longstanding issue of inadequate primary school facilities, Thyolo District Council has launched the construction of a new school known as Thyolo Boma Primary School.
Speaking during the launch, Thyolo District Commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga said the one storey infrastructure with a capacity of 240 pupils will expand access to quality education.
“The construction of this primary school will reduce the persistent problem of inadequate primary schools in Thyolo; thereby, increasing access for learners to quality education services,” said Kuphanga.
He noted that the project has several positive impacts including reducing overcrowding in existing schools, shortening the distance learners have to endure to attend school and improving the pupil-classroom ratio.
“Our children from this area cover distances of more than five kilometres on a daily basis to attend classes which is a demotivating factor on its own in their pursuit for education.
“So, the coming of this school will reduce the distance as well as decongest Mpinji, Nachipere, Adolorata and Mbandanga primary schools,” said the DC.
Kuphanga also called for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.
“We request all stakeholders, including the community, political leaders, contractors and all relevant structures to collaborate effectively for the success of this project,” he added.
Member of Parliament for Thyolo Central, Ben Phiri said he was pleased with the development, calling it ‘a dream come true’ for the community.
“The community is excited and I am excited too. Our children who were walking long distances will be relieved and we hope that the construction work proceeds as planned,” the legislator said.
Director of Education, Youth and Sports for Thyolo, Rabbie Kawalala noted that the project marks a positive step towards addressing the district’s critical shortage of classroom space.
Kawalala disclosed that the district currently serves 211 331 primary school learners, 104 286 boys and 107 045 girls with just 1 813 classrooms, leading to a pupil-classroom ratio of 117:1.
“This means that 51% of the pupils are forced to learn in open spaces. With the current enrolment, the district needs 3 522 classrooms to meet the recommended ratio of 60 pupils per classroom, highlighting a shortfall of 1 709 classrooms,” Kawalala explained.
The K598 million project which is part of World Bank's GESD project, consists of a one-storey school block comprising of four classrooms with a capacity of 60 desks each, two VIP latrines for leaners each with three drop holes, one room on each block, will have disability friendly facilities and two teacher’s houses.
The project is expected to be completed within 150 days.
UTM Youth Directorate to hold flag raising parade in Mangochi
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, August 15, Mana. The UTM Party through its youth directorate has organized a two days’ youth parade dubbed "Flag Raising Parade" where various activities are expected to take place.
UTM Youth Director, Penjani Kalua told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that the parade which will start on Friday, 16 to Saturday, 17 August, 2024 has been organized to honour late Saulos Chilima who until his death was the party’s president and Vice President of the Republic of Malawi.
Kalua said the parade seeks to mobilize the youths to ensure they register their names once registration for the 2025 general elections begins,
“We want to encourage the youths especially those who are eligible to vote to register once the registration process begins. This is to make sure that they exercise their right to vote,” said Kalua.
According to Kalua the parade will start on Friday with football and netball games where teams based in Mangochi will compete in a K1 million football and netball trophies followed by a talent show on Saturday at Mangochi Stadium.
“We have lined up a number of activities to spice up our parade. for instance, there will be a football and netball competition on the first day and on the second, we want to give the youth an opportunity to showcase their talents,
“There will be music, poetry and other performances. We are planning to have Onesimus as a guest artist to entertain young people who will come on this day,” added Kalua.
One of the youths who is also a music artist in the district, Kris Taddy Nazombe described the parade as a golden opportunity for the youths to display talent.
He observed that youths in the district lack platforms to showcase and promote their talents and commended UTM youth directorate, saying the event will give them confidence to shape their music career.
Launched on July 21, 2018, UTM) is a political party founded by late Chilima.
Joaquim Chissano University honours President Chakwera
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, August 15, Mana: Joaquim Chissano University on Thursday conferred a Doctorate Degree in International Cooperation and Development to President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera for his strategic thinking and adopting external policies to develop synergies with neighbouring countries.
Making his remarks, after officially accepting the Doctorate Degree at Joaquim International Conference Centre, in Maputo, Mozambique, President Chakwera said there is no country that can develop without international cooperation.
"No matter how developed or resilient a country can be, it can never thrive without external assistance, international cooperation is the only reasonable path to a prosperous future, if you remove international cooperation from any country it will collapse," he said.
President Chakwera said it is delusional for a nation to think that it can survive on its own; a nation is sovereign and not self-contained.
"In fact, nowhere is this reality more true than in Malawi’s relations with its neighbours. Malawi’s prosperity and security depends on a robust relationship with the countries with whom she shares her borders, and among these countries, the country that we share a lion’s share of our border with is Mozambique," he said.
President Chakwera said for the past four years global challenges such as COVID 19 and natural disasters has seen countries becoming more connected through challenges that have been cross boarder.
"It does not matter who gets it first but working together as brotherhood of nations, by combating challenges together such as climate change impacts such as cyclone Freddy that hit both Mozambique and Malawi, COVID 19," he said.
On this point President Chakwera said, he was honoured and humbled to accept the honorary doctorate, which recognizes his efforts to foster international cooperation, mentioning that among the cooperation none has been stronger than the one-he shares with President Nyusi and the people of Mozambique.
Vice Registrar at Joaquim Chissano University, Senior Professor Jose Magode said in April, the University Council rigorously scrutinized President Chakwera's commitment and dedication to strengthening international cooperation with other countries.
He said the University established that Chakwera first visited Mozambique after ascending to power in October 2020 as one way of developing a strong relationship with Mozambique by making agreements that have benefited the people from the two countries.
"The bilateral relations of Mozambique and Malawi has seen the interdependence of the two countries sharing benefits in areas that are mutually beneficial, the relations are leveraging on areas of strength of the two countries," he added.
The Registrar highlighted that the University recognized that President Chakwera ascended to power at a time Malawi was facing forex shortage, natural disasters and COVID 19.
He said with President Chakwera's strategic thinking and adopting external policies there has been a turn around and a recovery plan with innovative solutions to challenges that the country has been facing has been established.
Joaquim Chissano University was established on February 5, 1986, and article 6 of the university's honorific privileges, there is a Legal provision of conferment of honorary degrees to individuals who have exhibited dedication to the community and humanity.
