By Andrew Mkonda

Lilongwe, August 5, Mana: Lilongwe District Council on Monday launched a multi-million-kwacha Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) projects for the third cycle in the district.

Speaking during the construction launch of Kalamba Health Post in the area of Traditional Authority Mazengera estimated to cost K 85 million, Ward Councilor for the area, Mphatso Kaduya, said the health facility would ease the long distances residents travel when accessing health services.

“We are very thankful for this development. People from this area had to walk seven kilometres to access health services and some have been dying along the way,” he said.

He asked the contractor, who has been awarded the project to avoid sub-standard work, which he said, is counterproductive.

On his part, Group Village head Biwi thanked government for different projects being implemented in the area aimed at improving the people's living standards.

Biwi asked the contractor to consider employing people from the area as casual labourers so that they could benefit from the project construction.

The Contractor, Tetra Building have since assured people in the area of their commitment to construct the health post within four months.

GESD projects are implemented through the National Local Government Finance Committee (NLGFC), with funding from the World Bank.

By Arnold Namanja

Blantyre, August 5, Mana: Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza has underscored the need for providing adequate institutional capacity to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the country to ensure effective management of the non-state actors.

Speaking on Monday in Blantyre during the launch of the K1 billion NGO Fund, Sendeza observed that the 2023 NGO Report revealed that the NGO sector is one of the key drivers of the country’s economy, hence deserving special attention.

“The report shows that since 2020, at least 100 NGOs were dormant due to capacity issues and financial challenges. It was also discovered that most civil society organizations were duplicating their efforts which was crippling the work of such organizations,” she said.

Sendeza said poor alignment of the NGOs has also led to failure in profiling the NGO sector, leading to most civil society organizations working in isolation and not effectively engaging communities, they intend to serve.

“The Fund will help in closing gaps around community engagement during implementation of projects and also ensure sustainability of activities done through local NGOs. In order to address these challenges, government through the NGO Regulatory Authority (NGORA) is providing an enabling environment to ensure that local NGOs thrive,” she said.

Sendeza said the launch of the fund comes after a directive from President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera during the 2023 NGO Day that a comprehensive strategy to make the sector vibrant should be put in place.

“The NGO Fund is not only valuable in monetary terms but it will be impactful in form of consolidating the governance and management of NGOs especially CBOs to migrate to local NGOs,” Sendeza said.

The minister pledged that government would allocate resources to the NGO Fund annually to empower and sustain the activities of NGOs.

NGORA Chief Executive Officer, Edward Chileka-Banda said the regulatory authority is currently finalizing necessary procedures and that upon the completion of the exercise, NGOs depending on their eligibility, will be invited to apply for the fund.

“The NGO fund has been sourced from government subvention and NGO fees and aims to create an enabling environment for NGOs’ operations in Malawi. The fund will be used to build institutional capacity of NGOs that will include system strengthening and compliance to NGO Act and policy.

“Therefore, only those NGOs that are registered and have valid annual licenses will qualify for the fund,” said Chileka-Banda, adding that so far 463 NGOs have obtained valid licenses for the year 2024 and urged all NGOs yet to renew their licenses to do so promptly.

Speaking earlier, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Council for Non- Governmental Organizations in Malawi (CONGOMA), Ronald Mtonga expressed happiness to witness the launch of the fund, noting that most of the NGOs face challenges in terms of resource mobilization as such the fund would provide relief.

Mtonga commended government for the push towards the establishment of the Fund. However, he asked authorities to use the Fund for the intended purpose.

“For a start, K1 billion is a big sum of money. We hope that we move forward, the fund will grow to K5 billion, K10 billion and so on and so forth,” he said.

By Patricia Kapulula

Lilongwe, August 5, MANA: A study conducted by Mwapata Institute has shown a decline in the population of youths involved in agriculture for the past two decades from 83 percent in 2010 to 76 percent in 2020.

National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) partnered Mwapata Institute to conduct a study on Prospects and Barriers to Youth Engagement in Agriculture and Food Systems in Malawi.

The study looked at prospects and opportunities for youth engagement in agriculture and agri-food systems and barriers which constrain them from engaging in agriculture.

Speaking in Lilongwe on Monday at a press briefing to release results of the study, Mwapata Institute Executive Director, William Chadza, said levels of technology applied in agriculture, access to finances and structured markets are some of the challenges youths face in agriculture, hence the decline.

He said access to markets would give youth better returns from their engagements and investments in agriculture.

“We have also noted that although there is a relatively conducive policy environment but there are challenges in implementation especially on specific strategies which would guide what to be done to support youth engagement in agriculture,” he said.

NYCOM Executive Director, Rex Chapota, expressed concern over the decline saying youth are not attracted to agriculture because they feel it is not as profitable as they would want it to be.

He said the results are giving them an impetus to start engaging with all stakeholders in a rigorous manner to ensure that youths are involved in agriculture.

“The study will also help us to inform our programs. Currently, we are finalizing our strategic plan and the findings will find space in our plan so that we can bring back youth in agriculture.

“The kind of agriculture that youth are talking about is not traditional agriculture, they want commercialized, knowledge based and digitalized agriculture. This is a study that would inform our next steps,” said Chapota.

Despite the decline, Mwapata Research Fellow, Dr. Maggie Munthali, said there is an increase in use of modern technologies, hybrid seed, organic fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides among the youth in agriculture.

The study has also shown that youth are not doing agriculture for business as most of them are traditionally involved in subsistence farming of low crop value chains such as maize, with 90 percent, and vegetables at 52 percent.

By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, August 5, Mana: Minister of Health, Khumbize Kandondo Chiponda has revealed that Malawi, through the Ministry of Health, is making significant strides in the effective management of Malaria in the country.

She made the remarks on Monday during the official commencement of a three-day Country Peer Learning workshop on Malaria Vaccine at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.

The workshop has drawn participants from various nations keen on understanding Malawi's successful implementation of the Malaria Vaccine across all healthcare facilities in the country, with the support of UNICEF.

Chiponda emphasized that the introduction of the Malaria Vaccine has led to a tremendous reduction in Malaria cases, highlighting its efficacy in combating the disease among children.

‘We have really performed well as a nation in terms of plotting the Vaccine and also in the roll out campaign, as a country we have seen numerous children being vaccinated, an initiative which is remarkable’ said Chiponda

She reassured the Malawian population that the Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring the availability of not only Malaria Vaccines but also other essential vaccines in all healthcare facilities, thus realizing universal health coverage.

“My ministry will ensure that all health facilities across the country including in hard-to-reach areas have access to vaccine which remains government top priority” Chiponda said.

Nevertheless, she acknowledged that challenges such as natural disasters like cyclones and floods, as well as the evolving nature of mosquitoes, pose significant obstacles in the fight against Malaria and warrant thorough consideration.

Neema Kimambo, World Health Organization (WHO) representative to Malawi, commended the successful implementation of the Malaria Vaccine campaign in Malawi, noting the increased accessibility of vaccines for children.

Kimambo urged other African nations to follow Malawi's example in effectively rolling out the Malaria Vaccine campaign and encouraged participants to delve into addressing challenges faced during the pilot phase.

Furthermore, Kimambo reiterated WHO's unwavering support to the Malawian government in executing the Malaria Vaccine initiative across all healthcare facilities.

In his statement, United Nations International Emergency Fund (UNICEF) representative Shadreck Omo highlighted the continued collaborative efforts between the Organisation in ensuring the seamless supply chain of vaccines to remote areas and all health facilities in the country

He affirmed UNICEF's commitment to continuing support for the government in delivering quality healthcare services, achieving universal health coverage, and meeting the 2030 health aspirations.

Omo underscored the crucial effectiveness of the Malaria Vaccine in combatting Malaria among children in Malawi, emphasising the imperative for other African nations to consider the Malawi’s successful implementation of the vaccine.

By Abel Ikiloni

Blantyre, August 4, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi on Sunday attended the induction of Rev. Robert Yanduya as the General Secretary for Zambezi Evangelical Church (ZEC) at Mitsidi in Blantyre.

The Vice President read the scriptures from the book of John 9:1-7.

In his remarks, Usi said people were supposed to be in a hurry when attending to religious matters, saying God deserves plenty of time because he is the creator of everything on earth.

"It is not humbleness if leaders are in church but rather God himself is the one who humbled himself by descending during the service,” he said.

He blamed some unpatriotic Malawians who do not love their country or the country's leadership by just criticizing everything yet they don't offer any solutions to challenges beseeching the nation.

"Let's love our President and our country," he encouraged. "Who sinned between Chakwera and Malawians? But Jesus answered in the bible clearly.

"If you are a Christian or a Moslem be like your identity because politics is about management," he said.

On his part, the newly appointed ZEC General Secretary, Rev. Yanduya, expressed happiness by accepting God's word and assured church members that he will be dedicated to his work in uplifting the gospel.

"I will work with the synod management so that together we should take many lives to God," Yanduya said.

ZEC Mitsidi Synod Chairperson, Rev. Robert Mambeya, commended the Vice President for accepting their invitation to the ceremony.

ZEC came to Malawi through an Australian, Rev. Joseph Booth in 1892.

By Joel Phiri

Mzimba, August 4, Mana: Before the birth of his third and fourth born children namely Nicholas and Maria respectively, John Mwale, 46 from Group Village Head (GVH) Mandala in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Muzikuola in Mzimba used to be a successful farmer in his home village of Mjojo in Mzimba South.

‘‘I have been a farmer and a successful businessman before. I would grow and harvest hundreds of bags of maize some of which I sold for my personal needs at home. I had livestock such as goats and pigs. These made my family’s life easier. Everyone in my family was happy,’’ he recalled.

Mwale says things are no longer the same now.

In his own words, things in his life and family turned upside down in 2022 because of the resurgence in attacks of persons living with albinism.

‘‘My wife and I have four kids. The first one is Samuel seconded by Anita. These two were born without albinism. The birth of my third child, Nicholas and fourth born daughter Maria, who were born with albinism changed our life as a family as it marked the turn of uncertainty due to news of attacks on persons with albinism that were taking place in other parts of the country in 2022,’’ he said.

Mwale said whenever he would listen to the radios on how people with albinism were being butchered and mutilated elsewhere in the country, he would always shiver with fear and uncertainty, thinking about the safety and future of his two young children born with albinism.

‘‘I love all my kids. So when rampant attacks on persons with albinism heightened in the country in 2022, I started fearing for the safety of Nicholas and Maria. This made me stop my business of selling maize and I slowed down on farming activities to take care of my kids by providing security to them,’’ he said.

That was the starting point for Mwale to start escorting his kid Nicholas to school at Kaulankhutu Primary School located at Mapanjira, a distance of 2 kilometres from Mjojo village.

Mwale added with the incessant attacks that took hold in the country, he could not risk allowing his 10-year-old standard 3 son go alone to school or in the company of his fellow kids.

‘‘I could not trust anyone with my son’s safety. Although in my village nobody was attacked but I lost trust with anyone more so with strangers. So, since the attacks I stopped going to the maize fields and running various businesses as I used to do and this has had a toll on my life as a farmer as well as a businessman,’’ he said.

The harvest from the labour of his wife alone could not sufficient to support his family of six.

Before the attacks, things had been going on well that Mwale even had built a four bedroomed iron corrugated house.

But since his farming activities had suddenly grounded to a halt.

He never completed his house to the standard he wanted.

‘‘Several things had remained undone to the house like plaster and some of the house’s windows are not fixed and even some of the doors were not fixed. Yet this posed a threat to the lives of my kids as I feared thugs will come breaking such doors in the hunt f my kids with albinism,’’ the farmer said.

Mwale’s fears are not without basis.

The murder of a Kasungu based three-year-old girl with albinism, Talandira Chirwa who was hacked on the neck by unidentified assailants was an example of how far the attackers can go in their gruesome hunt for blood and bones from people living with albinism.

Talandira was stabbed on the neck and had her arms chopped off on November 30, 2022 at 11 pm while sleeping on the same bed with her grandmother and their house was not well secured that’s the reason the thugs made their way into it.

People with albinism in the country have faced grave human rights abuses such as abductions, killings and mutilations of body parts on the assumptions that their body parts have magical powers.

To ensure people living with albinism are well secured, President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera four years ago pledged to construct houses for them so that people like Nicholas and Maria live in secure and safe houses.

On Wednesday this week, there were jubilations and ululations in Mjojo village in Mzimba as Minister of Lands and Housing Deus Gumba presided over the handover ceremony of a magnificent house to the family of Nicholas and Maria, fulfilling a commitment made by president Chakwera four years ago.

The house is one of the 47 completed houses out of 69 so far constructed.

‘‘The handover of this house to the family of Mr Mwale fulfils what President’s promise upon getting into government that he would be constructing houses for people living with albinism to give them dignity and security,’’ he said as he handed the house’s keys to Mr Mwale, the father to Nicholas and Maria.

He said upon getting into government, Chakwera felt compelled to provide better housing for the people living with albinism because they had been neglected in terms of security provision by other regimes and house provision was one way of securing their homes.

‘‘For the past 26 years, people living with albinism were living in traumatic conditions. They were being haunted and discriminated but when the president came into power he directed that people with albinism should be protected.

“To that extent, he directed his Ministry to start constructing houses for them. We have been constructing the houses in consultation with Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare and now we are handing them over to the families,’’  Gumba said.

“This is a show of commitment by the President to address accommodation challenges faced by the people living with albinism and enhance their safety and security,” he added.

The Minister said government was committed to ensuring that people living with albinism are secured by ensuring that more houses in all districts are provided to them.

‘‘Government has allocated K600 million in this financial year which will be used to construct 15 more houses for people with albinism,’’ he disclosed.

Minister of Gender Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza has since asked the Ministry of Lands to fast track the construction of houses for the people with albinism by cutting out some lengthy processes that are contributing to delays in construction and completion of houses.

‘‘These houses are supposed to be constructed in all districts and 67 have been completed. There are a lot of people with albinism who need houses so there is need to expedite the construction process by cutting out some of the procurement processes which are slowing down the work,’’ she said.

National Coordinator for the Association of Persons with albinism in Malawi (APAM), Maynard Zakaria has applauded the government for constructing 67 decent houses for its members, saying the houses would provide a shield to people living with albinism against potential attackers.

He said government should cut the red tape that was delaying construction and completion of more houses on time.

‘‘Government releases funds for the housing construction but through lengthy processes of accessing the funds, it happens that the funds are not utilised within the financial year. We lose out as the money cannot be used when the financial year has come to an end,” Zakaria added.

Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and social welfare Nertha Semphere Mgala appealed for collaboration in protecting people living with albinism.

She called on community members and organizations to join efforts with the government in providing a secure environment for people living with albinism to enjoy their rights to life.

‘‘We lobby Members of Parliament to consider constructing houses in their constituencies for people living with albinism using the Constituency Development Fund. This will help in ensuring more people living with albinism have decent houses,’’ Mgala suggested.

After the house was handed over to them, Mwale and his two children Nicholas and Maria, aged 10 and five respectively, could not hide their excitement.

Mwale thanked government for the construction of the magnificent house, saying as a subsistent farmer he could not have built such a house singlehandedly.

The house is fixed with metal doors to ensure total protection and it has toilets within its fence.

 ‘‘This house will provide conducive environment to my kids and I ask government to continue constructing such houses to more people living with albinism,’’ Mwale said.

In a separate interview, Nicholas said living in a well-built house has given him a sense of security around him.

‘‘My ambition in life is to become a teacher that’s why I work hard in school. I just hope I will achieve my dream,’’ said Nicholas who also thanked his father for escorting him to school.

‘‘If my father was not willing to escort me to school and I would have dropped out as the school is far away and you would never know who would be hiding in the bushes to pounce on you,’’ he said.