MANAonline
Construction of Makanjira Water Supply Project to commence next month
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, July 11, Mana: Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) has disclosed that construction of the K7. 5 billion Makanjira Water Supply Project at Senior Chief Makanjira is expected to start early August this year, 2024.
SRWB Project Manager, Engineer Andrew Kacheyo said this during a full council meeting on Wednesday at Mangochi Town Council.
Speaking after the approval of the project by the council members, Kacheyo said that about 68, 000 people of Makanjira and surrounding areas are expected to receive clean and portable water once the project is completed.
“Currently, we have already identified a contractor but the project is at bidding process. We are waiting to finish receiving comments and suggestions from the general public so that the contractor can start the construction.
“This project is significant to the people of Makanjira and surrounding areas as it will result into reduction of water borne diseases such as cholera, as such, we are calling the council to work hand in hand with the board to ensure successful implementation of the project,” he added.
Engineer Kacheyo said that the project will be funded by the government of Malawi and it is expected to be complete within a period of 12 months.
In his remarks, Chairperson for Mangochi district council, Councilor Hassan Chikuta expressed gratitude following the approval of the project, saying this was in line with Mangochi Council’s District Development Plan and Malawi 2063 Agenda of provision of essential services to citizens.
"Water is life. It is because of this fact that people of Mangochi are giving full support to Southern Region Water Board and government so that the project should finish in good time. Our local leaders will be on the ground ensuring that there is no theft of materials or any other malpractice surrounding the project,” said Chikuta.
Member of Parliament for Makanjira North Constituency, Benedicto Chambo said that he has been lobbying for portable water at Makanjira for the ten years he has been in parliament such that drinking from unsafe water sources has been his concern over the years.
Chambo therefore described the project as timely saying once the project completes, people especially women and girls will enjoy drawing clean water within short distances.
The Makanjira Water Supply Project comes barely months after government through the SRWB completed similar project at Nkhunzi bay in the district.
Chakwera challenges the nation to sacrifice for change
Nkhata Bay district council for improved health care service delivery
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, July 11, Mana: Nkhata Bay district council in its efforts to improve health care service delivery, on Wednesday launched construction of two staff houses worth K223 million at Nkhwali Health Centre in the area of Senior Chief Timbiri in the district.
Speaking during handing over ceremony of Chilongozi building contractors to the project site, District Commissioner for Nkhata Bay, Rodgers Newa said that it is expected that the health facility will be fully functional once construction of houses is completed.
“We are committed to have all completed projects functional by making sure that they have all the necessary facilities to serve communities better.
“Two years ago, we constructed a clinic block which has not been functioning because there were no staff houses but that will be history since we are putting up two of them,” Newa said.
He added that the council was pleased to have secured funding for a complete package for services of a clinic and expressed optimism that the project will be completed within four months as stipulated.
He warned the contractor against shoddy works, otherwise all necessary measures will be taken to terminate the contract.
Acting Director of Public Works, George Gopani said that apart from constructing the two staff houses at the clinic, the project will connect electricity and piped water to the facility including an incinerator.
“Together with the community members, we will make sure that we support the contractor where need be for standard structures,” Gopani said.
In his remarks Councillor for Mpamba Ward, Joseph Thula commended the council for the project.
“Nkhwali clinic which is expected to serve a population of 12, 000 will now be functional. Today, communities have been given hope that soon after construction works of the medical staff houses is completed, the clinic will be fully functional,” Thula said.
The project is being funded by Governance to Enable Service Delivery through National Local Government Finance Committee with funding from World Bank.
Government to assist more cancer patients at Blantyre Cancer Centre
By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
Blantyre, July 11, Mana: Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda says government is expediting the process of entering into the Memorandum of Understanding with the International Blantyre Cancer Centre on the service level agreement to ensure that low-income cancer patients who have been on a long waiting list get assistance at the facility on government bill.
The minister said this on Wednesday in Blantyre when she inspected the cancer center to appreciate services currently being offered to cancer patients.
Although the International Blantyre Cancer Centre currently receives patients from Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and few Malawians who afford to access services on medical aid and cash payment, the authorities complained that most Malawian patients who are battling with cancer cannot afford to pay for treatment due to exorbitant fees.
Chiponda said: “The cancer burden in Malawi is quite huge, especially with breast cancer, cervical cancer, cancer of the esophagus, and Kaposi sarcoma. We have many Malawians who are really suffering from different types of cancer and lack essential services, especially radiotherapy.
“Blantyre Cancer Center is providing both chemotherapy and radiotherapy and as government, we will expedite the process of finalizing the agreement so that Malawians can start coming here to access the services.”
The minister disclosed that government made service charge agreement with Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) such that low income earners access medical services in CHAM facilities.
“We already made a similar agreement with CHAM hospitals, whereby they provide services to the people and government pays for them. We want the same to be done with the cancer center,” she added.
She said it was not worth for the International Blantyre Cancer Center to only utilize 20 percent of its capacity when its investment is so much.
International Blantyre Cancer Centre, Chief Medical Officer, Wanangwa Namelo encouraged government to fast-track the service level agreement to ensure that cancer patients receive treatment at the facility regardless of their economic status.
“A good move would be for us to offer cancer treatment to patients who cannot afford to pay for themselves. The cancer center has the capacity to treat more patients.
“We also encourage organizations to engage with us and see how best we can treat as many people as possible because we know that there are a lot of cancer patients out there whose conditions are getting worse while they are waiting and sadly, some are even dying when this facility is now here,” said Namelo.
Early this year, President Lazarus Chakwera inaugurated the multi-million-dollar state-of the art International Blantyre Cancer Center.
Farm mechanization key to improved yield production
By George Mponda
Karonga, July 11, Mana: Controller of Agriculture Extension and Technical Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Alfred Mwenifumbo has advised farmers to adopt farm mechanization to increase yield and ease their work.
Mwenifumbo said this recently at Hara Irrigation Scheme in Karonga where Mahindra, a company that deals in farm equipment, through Delta Automobiles and Equipment LTD had organized a demonstration of rice planting using Mahindra rice transplanters.
“Malawian rice farmers produce 146,000 metric tonnes annually but there is demand for 12 million tonnes of rice in Africa. Adopting mechanized farming will not only help farmers increase their yield but will also reduce manual work.
“Under mega farms’ initiative, all farmland parcels exceeding 20 hectres qualify to be a mega farm. I therefore would like to advise farmers who hold such land to register it and form a cooperative registered with Ministry of Industry and Trade for them to access loans from Agriculture Commercialization (AGCOM) Project and purchase these machines,” said Mwenifumbo.
General Manager for Delta Automobiles and Equipment LTD Goldy Nair said they conducted eight- month research among farmers in Malawi and most of them complained of hard manual work in agricultural activities.
"Rice is always planted manually in all districts and this affects quality and quantity of yield, hence our involvement in contributing to the achievement of Malawi 2063 of becoming a self-reliant nation through agricultural commercialization.
“This is why today we displayed walk-behind and ride-on rice transplanters which are capable of planting rice on four hectares in a day,” said Nair.
Manager for Hara Irrigation Scheme, Derlings Mwalungira said the intervention will lead to modernized agriculture with reduced expenditure in rice production.
Practical solutions key to tourism growth
By Wallace Chipeta
Lilongwe, July 11, Mana: Minister of Tourism, Vera Kamtukule has said private sector and government need to work together to ensuring tourism industry building and growth in the country.
She made the remarks Wednesday at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe when she appreciated a three-day Tourism Delivery Lab in session.
"Come up with practical solutions to address challenges affecting the growth of tourism and enhance those things that we are doing well in the industry.
Government identified agriculture, tourism and mining (ATM) strategy as the recovery plan for the economy.
To ensure the holistic approach to resolving the bottlenecks chocking the tourism industry, the lab is focusing on three streams of product development and marketing; infrastructure development for the tourism sector and lastly policy and legal framework.
The Tourism Delivery lab has been organized by Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU).
2024 Umhlangano annual cultural cancelled
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, July 11, Mana: Maseko Ngoni Paramount Chief INkosi ya Makhosi Gomani V has cancelled 2024 Umhlangano annual cultural event which was slated for September 5-7, 2024 saying this is one way of honouring late Impi, Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima and Musician late Lucius Banda.
Gomani V announced this during a Press briefing on Wednesday at his Lizulu headquarters in Ntcheu district.
He described the death of Impi Chilima who was State Vice President and Banda who was one of the country's greatest musician as a huge blow to the Maseko Ngoni' and the nation at large.
"Impi Biyeni Chilima was very patriotic and highly committed to Ngoni culture. He was actively participating in all Ngoni cultural and traditional functions," Gomani said adding the sudden departure of Impi Chilima has left a big gap which is difficult to be filled in the Maseko Ngoni culture.
In the midst of mourning Impi Biyeni Chilima, the Maseko Ngonis lost the vital pillar and a music icon Soldier, Lucius Banda who greatly contributed to Ngoni culture through his cultural Music.
"The death of Soldier, Lucius Banda is a sad news to Maseko Ngoni as he greatly assisted in promoting culture through his instrumentals, and was a profound pillar to the Maseko Ngoni Heritage Trust," he said.
"Given these sad developments, I have declared three-month mourning period among Maseko Ngoni's hence cancelling this year's Umhlangano annual festival," Gomani V said.
Impi late Chilima died in a plane crash in Chikangawa forest on June 10, 2024 while Soldier, Lucius Banda died on June 30, 2024 in South Africa due to kidney failure.
AG set to challenge plastic manufacturers' injunction
By Martha Simchimba
Lilongwe; July 11, Mana: Ministry of Justice has it was ready to challenge the injunction obtained by plastic-making companies saying the development by these companies was counterproductive.
On June 20, 2024, plastic-making companies led by Golden Plastic Limited withdrew their case but surprisingly, 11 other companies who were not part of the previous case obtained fresh injunction restraining the government from effecting the ban.
The new 11 companies that obtained a fresh injunction are City Plastics Industry, Flexo Pack Ltd, G. Plastics Wholesale and Retail, G.S Plastic Industry, Jagot Plastics Ltd, O.G Plastics Industries (2008) Ltd, Plastimax Ltd, Polypack Ltd, Qingdao Recycling Ltd, Sharma Industries and Shore Rubber (Lilongwe) Ltd.
In a Press statement that Malawi News Agency (Mana) has seen, Ministry of Justice has said what these companies have done means the implementation of the ban on thin plastics by the Ministry of Natural Resources was now put on hold again unless this new injunction was fought and vacated.
“The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, dismissed with costs a 'thin plastics' case where companies in the plastic-making business were pursuing an appeal. The dismissal followed a notice of withdrawal filed by lawyers for the appellants, representing Golden Plastics Limited.
“If these companies indeed have sufficient interest in the case, what made them not to join the initial case that has been in court for years? This is a clear abuse of court process,” the Statement reads in part.
The Ministry described the development as a tactic by the plastic companies to delay implementation of the ban by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change or Malawi Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) from enforcing the ban on thin plastics.
Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change Public Relations Officer (PRO), Frank Nkondetseni said this was a worrisome development and the Ministry was very disappointed because MEPA was well set to embark on enforcement activities to get rid of thin plastics which are a threat to the environment.
“With the injunction we cannot talk much because the matter is in court,” he added.
Nancholi Health Centre opens
By Memory Chatonda
Blantyre, July 11, Mana: Government has expressed satisfaction with the newly constructed K1.1 billion Nancholi Health Centre which is expected to serve a population of 44,000 people in Nancholi Township and surrounding areas.
Speaking during the opening of the facility on Wednesday, Minister of Health, Khumbize Chiponda said the structure was of high-quality standard and adequately equipped to provide essential health care services to communities including under five children.
“We commend the contractor for building this state-of-the-art facility in Blantyre and this standard should be replicated by other districts that are constructing similar health facilities,” she noted.
Chiponda assured the communities that government would continue to work with its partners under the Health Sector Joint Fund to build more health posts across the country to bring quality health services closer to the people.
“In some areas, people are still traveling long distances to access health care just like it was the case here. So, it is necessary to have proper health Centre’s conveniently constructed to deliver services to people,” the Minister said.
She appealed to the health facility’s management committee to take due responsibility in ensuring that the facility was maintained and that no medical officer as involved in drug pilferage.
Human Development Team Leader for the British High Commission, Dan Pine said he was equally impressed with the newly built state-of-the-art Nancholi Health Centre.
He pledged the British High Commission’s commitment to work with the Ministry of Health to support the health sector in providing the required services to improve the health and well-being of communities.
Traditional Authority (TA) Somba thanked government for constructing the health centre to provide health-related services to communities in the area.
He urged his subjects to take ownership of the facility to ensure that it continues to benefit current and future generations.
Somba asked the government to consider rehabilitating the road leading to the facility to ease mobility challenges among the patients, including pregnant women.
Among others, the facility will provide out-patient, under-five clinic, maternity and family planning services.
Phalombe to hold prayers and candle light memorial service
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, July 11, Mana: United Transformation Movement (UTM) youths in Phalombe have organized prayers and candle light memorial service on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at Phalombe Secondary School.
The Prayers and candle light memorial service are in honour of late Dr. Saulos Chilima who until his death on June 10, 2024 was Malawi’s Vice President and UTM President.
Chilima and eight others died in a plane crash at Chikwangawa Forest in Mzimba and prayers and some forms of condolences have taken place in and outside the country.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Wednesday in Blantyre, one of the organizers of Phalombe event, Priscilla Moniwa confirmed that the event was to honour “a generational hero”
“This is not a political event but prayers to pay respect to our leader who inspired many youths,” she said.
The prayers and candle light memorial service under the slogan: “Osatopa, Osatopa, Osafooka” at Phalombe Secondary School is expected to start at 5 pm to 7 pm and the patronage is expected to dress in black and dark attire.
Moniwa extended invitation to people in Phalombe and surrounding districts to come in larger numbers to attend the event and assured them of safety and security.
“We have contacted the Police and we have our security team to ensure safety,” she said, adding that UTM Secretary General, Patricia Kaliati will be the guest of honour at the event.
Similar event is expected to take place on Sunday at Zingwangwa Youth Centre in Blantyre.
Blantyre held the first candle light memorial on June 16, 2024, near Curio selling point in the Blantyre CBD where musicians such Eli Njuchi and Onesmus took part.
Since the death of Chilima and eight others, candle lighting ceremonies have taken place in Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe, Mzuzu, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Karonga and Mulanje among others.
