MANAonline
Disaster risk management law to communities
By Wallace Chipeta
Lilongwe, August 15, Mana: Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) has said communication and civic education practitioners need to expedite educating the communities on contents of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Act to save lives, property and infrastructure.
Director of Preparedness and Response in DODMA Rev. Moses Chimphepo said this at Lilongwe Hotel Wednesday during a daylong workshop on validation of key messages developed from DRM Act.
He indicated that the law was passed by Parliament in 2023 to provide for disaster preparedness, risk reduction, response and recovery and needs to reach out to the communities for them to be able to reduce risks in managing disasters.
Speaking on behalf of participants to the message validation workshop, Executive Director of Human Rights of Women and Girls with Disabilities, Stella Nkhonya asked DoDMA and other stakeholders to consider persons with disabilities when disseminating messages because they are vulnerable to disasters.
She advised communicators to monitor impact messages make on communities once dissemination is done.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) sponsored the message validation workshop organized by DoDMA.
Committee urges government to invest more in social protection
By Priscilla Phiri
Ntchisi, August 14, Mana: Chairperson for the Parliamentary Committee on Social and Community Affairs, Savel Kafwafwa has pleaded with the government to increase the amount of income allocated to Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCTP) beneficiaries to effectively alleviate poverty in the country.
He said this at an event organized by the Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare, and Community Development aimed at appreciating the progress of the SCTP in Ntchisi district on Wednesday at Gwangwa Primary School, TA Kalumo.
Kafwafwa said a number of beneficiaries graduating from the programme have been able to improve their livelihoods by managing the reasonable amount they received from the programme.
“We came here to look into the practical issues related to social cash transfer, and we have very good news. We have seen that the programme has helped transform a lot of people who were almost beggars, but now they have their own assets like goats, sheep, houses, and businesses, which is highly commendable,” he said.
The Chairperson noted that most of the beneficiaries of the programme managed to develop significantly after receiving a larger sum of money in arrears.
He observed some households, although they are graduating, have not been able to realize much from the programme due to extreme poverty among other challenges.
“We have observed that some households have not benefited much from the programme because of extreme poverty, which has raised questions on whether the money is really enough during our visit to the households. However, there are others that have just been careless with the money. For instance, we failed to meet one beneficiary because he went out drinking immediately after he received his money,” Kafwafwa added.
He pleaded with the government to consider increasing the amount given to the beneficiaries to meaningfully rescue them from the jaws of poverty.
“It’s high time that Malawi allocated enough funds for the programme. We commend this government, especially the President, for increasing the average monthly allocation for the beneficiaries from K10,000 to K18,000. We still plead for more so that others may benefit from the programme,”Kafwafwa said.
He appealed to the Ministry of Gender to review its database to manage to help those that are deserving.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Sofileti Soko, who was among the graduates of the program at Gwangwa, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the government for giving her hope through the SCTP.
“I had no capital to start my business, but after I got selected to benefit from this programme, I managed to start a business and learn how to sustain it through the programme. A number of us are now financially capable of managing our households as well as the income by multiplying it through village banks, another strategy that we have learned from the programme,” she said.
Deputy Director responsible for SCTP in the Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare, and Community Development, Ben M’bwana, commended beneficiaries who utilized their funds well by starting businesses and farming, among other activities, saying they have set a good example for other beneficiaries to follow.
Social Cash Transfer Programme locally known as Mtukula Pakhomo is an unconditional cash transfer programme targeted to ultra-poor, labour-constrained households.
Police arrests illegal pharmacy dealers and seize medical products
By Sellah Chunda
Lilongwe August 15, Mana: Lilongwe Police on Wednesday, seized assorted medical products and equipment’s worth millions of kwacha and arrested two suspects for possessing and selling medical drugs illegally.
The suspects have been identified as Hardson Malenga, 65, and his daughter Reginna Stander, 31.
Lilongwe Police Spokesperson, Inspector, Hastings Chigalu said through a special operation targeting all criminal activities in the city, invaded Lilongwe Main Market at Mpanipani location and managed to seize medical products in three shops owned by different individuals.
Some of the medical products are suspected to have been sourced from public hospitals. However, some of the batches on the drugs are showing that they expired in 2018.
Meanwhile, Police is currently waiting for experts from the Pharmacy, Medicines and Regulatory Authority (PMRA) for assessment of the drugs.
The Suspects hail from Chilinde Village, Traditional Authority (TA) Tsabango in Lilongwe and will appear in court to answer cases of possessing and selling medical products without license and conducting pharmacy business on unlicensed premises.
Gateway Mall Netball league show down
By Tione Andsen
Lilongwe, August 14, Mana: Battle for bubbly points in K40 million Central Region Gateway Mall Netball League continues this coming weekend with current League Leaders, Blue Eagles Sisters set to amalgamate their quest for the season’s title.
The Weekend is overflowing with thrilling fixtures worth watching from terraces as both Saturday and Sunday is filled with top actions at Gateway Netball Court in Area 47 Sector One where beehive of netballing talents will be showcased.
Blue Eagles Sisters are leading the 10 team pack with 10 points from five games after accumulating 262 baskets against 115 with 147 goal difference while Young Eagles are trailing behind them with eight points from same number of games played.
The Leaders are yet to register a defeat and have strictly maintained their 100 per winning record among the 10 team in the league.
The Young Eagles have netted eight more baskets as compared to leaders perching them at 270 against 134with a goal difference of 136 and are second on the ladder
Lioness are third on the table with eight points have bagged 209 baskets against 152 and have a goal difference of 57.
However, Eagles’ Sisters arch rivals, Civonets are lying fourth on the log half way through the first round with eight points and have 205 baskets to their credit against 173 with a goal difference of 32.
They need to pull up their stockings if they are to march their rivals, Blue Eagles Sisters owing to the fact that that they lost in a City derby 39-26 last at Saturday at Gateway Netball Court.
The Mpico sponsorship league has seen the bottom three teams namely Boma, Immigration and Sharpshooters having tough time and are failing to make it to the grades.
Boma with two points on eight position netted 229 baskets against 215 with a goal difference of 14, Immigration has 121 baskets with a goal difference of -141 and has two points on ninth and Sharpshooters are anchoring the log table without a point have managed to net 90 baskets against -206.
Blue Eagles Sisters Coach, Madano Tepetheya said they have two fixtures tom fulfill although his team is carrying some injuries by replacements are there to fill in the gap.
“We preparing to win the games and the teams, we playing are not our size and people know that home of netball is Blue Eagles, you can ask anyone about it,” he bragged.
Efforts to talk to Immigration Coach, Aaron Gopani, proved futile as his two mobile numbers went unanswered after several attempts on Wednesday afternoon.
The week six fixtures are as follows:
Saturday, August 17, 2024
Sharpshooters vs Civonets @ 9:00
Vanessa vs Mafco @ 10:30
Immigration vs Young Eagles @ 13:00
Blue Eagles Sisters vs Dyna Queens @14:30
Mafco vs Boma @16:00
Sunday August 18, 2024
Young Eagles vs Lioness @ 9:00
Immigration vs Civonets @ 10:30
Boma vs Dyna Sisters @ 13:00
Sharpshooters vs Blue Eagles Sisters @14:30
Vanessa Sisters vs Lioness 1600
Small holder farmers to migrate from AIP to Commercial Farming
By Isaac Jim
Blantyre, August 14, Mana: Government through the Ministry of Agriculture is migrating small holder farmers from Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) to commercial farming as one way of achieving the Malawi 2063 (MW2063) vision of having an agricultural sector that is commercially driven.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency on Tuesday, Agriculture Minister, Sam Kawale, says that among other migrated beneficiaries are elderly and people with disability, commercial farmers who have 20 hectares or more of land and those with large pieces of land for mechanization.
“The migrated farmers from AIP to other programmess like Social Cash Transfer include the elderly and people with disabilities who find it difficult to cultivate, that is managed by the Ministry of Gender and over 300,000 households are expected to benefit from K36 billion that is put in place,”
“Commercial farmers with 20 hectares or more, with already available irrigation land and equipment, will have access to K20 billion financing from National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) and those with large pieces of land who want to use mechanization will be encouraged to access Agricultural Commercialization (AGCOM) funds, which are close to K600 billion,” he said.
Kawale further says that there is K60 billion that is set to help youths, women and people with disabilities who want to start agro businesses.
“Youths, women and those with disabilities interested in starting agro businesses will access K60 billion through the Youth Entrepreneurship for the Future of Food and Agriculture Program (YEFFAP),” he added.
Agriculture Specialist, Tamani Nkhono recommends the development and said this is how he thinks that subsidy could have been designed from the beginning.
“The setup is ok, looking at the fact that subsidy is now reaching all categories of farmers is reaching those that are not able to produce, large scale and medium scale farmers, those have gone to social cash transfers. This is how the subsidy could have designed from the beginning,” he explained.
Nkhono added that the current setup is going to have impact in terms of food security and development of the country.
“What was happening with subsidy was more less like distorting the market as it was giving advantage to one class of farmers at the expense of others but also the resources going to the subsidy programme were more geared towards consumption than commercialization. There current setup will therefore going to bring impact in terms of food security but support those with ability to produce,” Nkhono added.
The universal subsidies existed from around 1990s (ADMARC’s Implicit taxation and Starter pack) while targeted subsidies started in the late 1990s and continue to date, including the Targeted from Input Program (TIP) and the Farm Input Subsidy Program (FISP) that the current government changed it to Affordable Inputs Program (AIP).
Communities appeal NGOs to invest more in disaster risk reduction
Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, August 14, Mana: Communities in Nsanje have asked non-governmental organizations to put much resources on disaster risk reduction in the district other than putting much focus on post disaster recovery when all is lost.
Chairperson of a group of volunteers in disaster risk management at Nthole Village, Charles Bishop told Malawi News Agency on Thursday in an interview that prioritizing disaster risk reduction will reduce impact of disasters on communities.
“A lot of organizations come with various interventions when a disaster occurs and as of now, few organizations are working on disaster-related activities. We therefore appeal to all non-governmental organizations to continue complimenting government efforts in reducing disaster risks” he said.
Group Village head Simenti said that communities were planting trees and bamboo as one way of reducing the speed of flooding water in their area.
“We need technical and material support so that we can achieve our desire of reducing the risk of floods that hit the district almost every year,” he added.
He therefore applauded Concern World for its continuously supporting disaster-related activities through Zurich Project.
“Through the Zurich Project, we have been oriented on Disaster Risk Management (DRM ACT 2023). Through the same Zurich Project, Concern Worldwide has also helped us to do participatory vulnerability and capacity assessment,” Group Village head Simenti added and called on more interventions from various players on disaster risk reduction.
He said community members only need support from various players in implementing activities that are meant to restore the environment through afforestation, adding that the community members took it upon themselves to plant trees, bamboos, and building houses that can withstand disasters
District Disaster Risk Management Officer in Nsanje, Dan Mandala also observed that most organization only respond to disasters as opposed to look into ways and means of reducing disaster risks.
"As disaster office, we advocate for risk reduction such that we work in collaboration with other NGO's to reduce disaster risks,” he added.
Nsanje Civil Society Organisation Network Chairperson, Mike Dansa said it was worrisome that organizations put much emphasis on recovery and distribution of relief items only.
“We need long-term projects that will change the lives of the community. Most of the NGOs come when disaster strikes. We have to admit this and as CSOOs, we will sit down to encourage each other to come up with interventions that will help to reduce disaster risks,” said Dansa.
He added that most of the organizations have short-term projects, which are characterized by low impacts on the lives of people.
“We have been hearing reports that Nsanje has a lot of organizations but people are still poor because short projects have less impact on the lives of people. People out there want capacity building on how they can build resilient houses, people want support to construct dykes,” Dansa added.
Nsanje is mostly prone to floods such that people are mostly affected by flood almost each and every rainy season.
Ministry of Lands issues 1 661 Certificate of Customary Estates in Phalombe
By Linda Likomwa
Phalombe, August 14, Mana: Ministry of Lands on Tuesday issued 1 661 Certificate of Customary Estates to farmers at Wowo Irrigation Scheme in Traditional Authority Nkhulambe in Phalombe.
Speaking in an interview after presenting the certificates, Commissioner of Lands, Precious Tembo said this was the first time they were issuing certificates in Phalombe, but that they have been conducting similar exercises in Chikwawa, Nsanje and Zomba.
“Once we have issued the certificates, it means the land cannot be sold, but the owners would be renting it out to others who want to use the land productively and this will also help to reduce land wrangles among family members,” he said.
Tembo added that issuing of certificates is in accordance with the 2016 Land Laws, pointing out that most of the certificates were issued in Chikwawa and Nsanje under the Shire Valley Transformation Project (SVTP).
Phalombe District Council Chairperson, Lesten Kondwani thanked the Ministry of Lands for issuing certificates to farmers at the scheme, saying this would go a long way in addressing land disputes among family and community members who were storming the District Commissioner's Office for redress.
One of the beneficiaries, Dolifa Massa from Dekadeka Village said the certificate has guaranteed them full ownership of their land and that they would help them secure the pockets of land from perpetrators who would want to sell or take away their land.
Over 100 000 certificates have already been issued and over 200 000 certificates are being processed under the SVTP, Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project in Zomba and Programme for Rural Irrigation Development in Phalombe.
Likoma CS-EPWP beneficiaries asked to save in VSLs
By Ireen Mseteka
Likoma, August 13, Mana: Land Resource Conservation Officer (LRCO) for Likoma, Arthur Machila has urged Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Program (CS-EPWP) beneficiaries in the district to save their money in village savings and loans (VSL) groups.
Machila said this Tuesday in Chizumulu at the end of a pay parade exercise which was held in Likoma and Chizumulu Islands.
"The money received can be saved in VSL groups. They can also start small scale businesses to enhance economic security at household level," said Machila.
One of the beneficiaries, Alice Muzizimanga from Chiteko in Chizumulu said she has been investing her money into a fish business.
"Since I got enrolled in the project, I have been investing the money into a small business. I buy fish and sell it to my customers from the mainland. I use the profits to buy food stuffs for my family," said Muzizimanga.
She then urged her fellow beneficiaries to invest the money in any business, saying this will help them to be self-reliant when the program phases out.
Rose Mataka from Chioko in Likoma said she uses the money to pay school fees for her children who are in secondary school.
"I have also used part of the money to build boys quarters and every month I get rentals from these quarters. Before the project, I never had any business and life was not easy," said Mataka.
CS-EPWP is a government initiative under Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project being implemented by National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC) with support from the Multi Donor Trust Fund and the World Bank.
MACRA committed towards achieving acceleration of digital literacy
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, August 14, Mana: Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) says it committed towards accelerating digital literacy as one-way of bridging digital divide amongst young people and the nation as a whole.
The remarks were made Wednesday in Mzuzu by MACRA Director General, Daud Suleman during National Youth Conversations Series on the role of youth in bridging digital divide which was organized by National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM).
Suleman said some of the contributing factors to digital divide in the country include limited access to affordable smart digital devices that can connect to internet.
He added that more people in urban areas are connected to internet than in rural areas hence resulting into a wide digital divide due to factors which include lack of digital infrastructure.
Suleman then said the most important to address digital divide to attain universal digitalization where all public posts in both rural and urban areas should have digital services to be accessed by every one for meaningful development.
“There are about 14 million sim cards out of which 1 million are on smart phones that can connect to internet while almost all the 14 million use mobile wallets using digital financial transactions.
This indicates that more people are knowledgeable of financial digital transactions but not connected to internet,” said Suleman.
He added that most of the young people who have smart phones do not use internet facility meaningfully and urged them to utilize the facility in promoting digital innovations, activism and entrepreneurships as opportunities have gone digital.
Suleman however was quick to say that the authority is planning to embark on local device assembly where by the authority will be importing parts of smart phones and be assembled in Malawi.
“This approach will reduce high tax regime on such devices and lowering their cost. The initiative will also be a catalyst in transferring digital skill to the youth as they will be ones assembling the phones.
The end product is that we are going to have affordable digital devices hence improving accessibility to the phones resulting into digital literacy and utilization acceleration,” he said.
The MACRA Director General added the authority has also embarked on a Connect a School Program through which the authority is constructing computer laboratories in all constituencies across the country to accelerate access to digital platforms through internet.
According to Associate Professor, Chomora Mikeka who is also Director of Science, Technologies and Innovations in Ministry of Education, the education sector is striving to have internet connectivity to all schools in 2030.
“Out of 6,954 primary schools, only 140 of them are connected and would like to have all of them all online.
We have many players under Connect a School Program and these players include MACRA, Universal Service Fund, Airtel PLC, Unicef and Digital Malawi Accelerator Project which is targeting to connect 2000 schools with most of them being secondary schools so that we promote digital literacy,” said Mikeka.
Board Chairperson for NYCOM, Duncan Chiyani the council organize a series of conversation for the youth to make tangible contributions towards the development of the country and share their vision of what country they would like to have in various aspects.
“This is the third in a series of conversations and the first one was on youth contributions to food systems and the second one was on young people and elections.
Today’s conversation is ‘Bridging the Digital Divide: Are Malawian Youth Ready to lead in the Digital Revolution towards Malawi 20263’.” said Chiyani.
One of the participants to the conversations, Erick Banda of Nkhata Bay Youth Network appealed to young people to lobby Parliament to consider including Digital Responsive Budget in Constituency Development Fund.
President Chakwera tours Mozambican industrial park
By Fostina Mkandawire
Maputo, August 14, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday toured Mozambican industrial area called Moz Park to appreciate trading activities being implemented by the Mozambican Government.
Speaking after touring Midal Cables International, President Chakwera said the tour was an eye opener and the trading industry in Malawi will benefit.
"The magnitude of manufacturing and exporting activities witnessed today are worth emulating to Malawi, I am impressed by how Midal Cables is conducting it's business," Chakwera said.
Chakwera said it is his vision to have a company that manufactures aluminium, alloy rod and wires the same way that Midal Mozambique is doing and exporting the cables worldwide.
The Moz Park is home to some of Africa’s key players within the manufacturing, industrial, import and export business.
The park is organized as a combined industrial park and free-trade zone and it accommodates over 35 companies employing more than 5,000 people.
Earlier, President Chakwera held bilateral talks with Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and later Memorandums Of Understanding were signed to boost trade and improve the energy sector between the two countries.
The Moz Park is located in the Southern part of Mozambique, two kilometre away from the main highway and 20 km from the port.
