MANAonline
SOFF donates school supplies
By Mwai Kumanda
Lilongwe, January 15, Mana: Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF), an organization founded by the First Lady Madam Monica Chakwera, has donated school supplies to Dzenza Secondary School students in Lilongwe.
Among the donated supplies are books that contains different topics to help students know about health and wellness, physical and mental health, nutrition among others.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Tuesday after presenting the donation, SOFF Education Programs Coordinator, Lawrence Kayesa, said made they donation because of their passionate to helping learners stay in school and also teach them general life skills.
“Students face a lot of challenges on daily basis hence the donation to help them in their academic journey,” he said.
Kayesa said majority of learners at the school come from rural areas hence the donation so that they have an opportunity to know different things apart from academics.
Dzenza Secondary School Deputy Head Teacher, Mary Kachamba Phiri, expressed gratitude saying it is important to equip student with materials that will help them in their daily lives.
“We are always excited when we receive such kind of donation. I want to thank SOFF for giving our students these books that would help transform their day-to-day lives.
“There are certain things that students do not learn in class. I strongly believe that these books will help them know different things to benefit their lives,” she said.
A Form Four student at the school, Ellinat Ganizani, thanked SOFF for the timely donation, which she said, will go a long way in assisting them in their lives and academics.
SOFF is donating the supplies in three secondary schools in Lilongwe namely; Dzenza, Lilongwe Girls and Likuni Girls secondary schools.
Salima, Nkhotakota communities hail M5 road construction
By Gift Chiponde
Lilongwe, January 15, Mana: Communities in Salima and Nkhotakota have commended government for taking a decisive action to ensure that construction of the Lakeshore (M5) road is done.
The project, which is currently underway, is meant to elevate Nkhotakota as a key in various economic activities in Agriculture, Tourism and Mining (ATM) Strategy.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), a community member in Salima, Agatha Mambo, expressed gratitude for the road construction, stating it has instilled hope among residents.
She said the road will facilitate transportation of produce to and from Nkhotakota, ultimately enhancing their earnings.
Mambo highlighted challenges faced due to the poor road conditions, making it difficult to reach Nkhotakota and other districts along the lakeshore.
"The substandard road conditions hindered our business operations. The road under construction will not only boost economic activities but also contribute to various developments, including healthcare sector," she said.
She said the road's benefits extend beyond Salima and Nkhotakota, benefiting multiple districts in the northern and southern regions of the country.
James Mangani, a rice trader at Salima Boma, expressed optimism on the road's impact on rice business.
He noted exorbitant transportation costs incurred when ferrying rice from Nkhatabay or Nkhotakota, resulting in price hikes to offset losses.
"The escalating transport expenses have compelled us to raise prices. The new road is expected to alleviate transport burdens we face," Mangani said.
Joyce Matemba, a rice farmer in Nkhotakota, emphasized the road's role in reducing travel time to markets thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing financial losses.
"The improved road infrastructure will address the longstanding challenges we have encountered hence ensuring timely delivery to markets. I commend President Chakwera's administration for the timely decision to reconstruct the road," Matemba said.
A motorist operating between Nkhotakota and Lilongwe, Akuzike Nyadani, highlighted the financial strain on drivers due to vehicle maintenance costs resulting from poor road conditions.
"The deteriorated road has been a major setback to us as drivers. The new road will provide sustainable solutions to the challenges faced by the people of Nkhotakota," Nyadani said.
Senior Chief Mwansambo of Nkhotakota commended the initiative, emphasizing the transformative impact of the M5 Road on local development and connectivity within the lakeshore.
"The dilapidated state of the previous road posed safety risks to people of Nkhotakota, isolating them from key developments," Mwansambo said.
He underscored Nkhotakota's significance in agriculture, fishing and solar energy production, emphasizing the need for investments in the lakeshore.
Senior Chief Kanyenda of Nkhotakota echoed Mwansambo’s sentiments highlighting the road's role in enhancing social and economic activities.
He stressed the road's connectivity to vital institutions like Dwangwa, housing ethanol and sugar manufacturing plants, which could boost national exports.
"The road will address challenges faced by institutions like Ilovo thereby fostering economic growth. It will facilitate transportation of essential products such as groundnuts, cassava, rice and fishery products, benefiting not only Nkhotakota but the entire nation," Kanyenda said.
Kanyenda emphasized the road's strategic significance in connecting Malawi and Tanzania.
NBS Bank FInES project impresses parliamentary committee
By Pempho Kantayeni & Joyce Menyere
Lilongwe, January 14, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism is impressed with the progress that NBS Bank has made in implementing the Financial Inclusion and Entrepreneurship Scaling (FInES) project, funded by the World Bank.
The Bank is giving out loans to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) at a lower interest rate of 11 percent to boost entrepreneur’s businesses across the country.
Speaking Tuesday after inspecting some of the beneficiaries of the project, Chairperson for the committee, Paul Nkhoma, said the subsidised loans provided by NBS Bank on behalf of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, are crucial in achieving the Malawi 2063 as the project helps in boosting trade and industry by providing a head start to entrepreneurs to enhance their businesses.
"We are looking to create a lot of self-reliant entrepreneurs that create employment thereby generating an economy that is functional by 2063. We are pleased with the progress and records as one of the beneficiaries of this project was able to employ 40 employees after getting the loan,” he said.
Nkhoma said one of the key objectives of FInES is import substitution so that the country saves forex as well as exporting products manufactured by the beneficiaries of the project.
In an interview with one of the beneficiaries at Kanengo in Lilongwe, owner for Wood-Be-Nice furniture company, Chipha Bwanali, said the loan has helped his furniture business by improving cash flow and increasing the company's production capacity.
"With this money, we are able to produce more. Even the range of things that we are producing has also improved, sales have gone up, and this has translated in employment,” he said.
FInES project, which ends in September 2025, has seen NBS Bank disbursing K5.3 billion of K5.9 billion to SMEs.
Msowoya to train 100 basketball players in Blantyre
By Milcah Mathias
Blantyre, January 14, Mana: As one way of giving back to the community, basketball coach Wiza Msowoya is building a new basketball team by training 100 elite athletes at Zingwangwa Youth Centre in Blantyre free of charge.
Msowoya said in an interview with the Malawi News Agency on Tuesday that the initiative was aimed at sharing what he has learned from his 10 years of experience in basketball.
The coach said he envisions having elite athletes who are well trained to contribute positively to the development of Malawi through sporting activities.
He mentioned that so far he has recruited eight individuals to be trained and was still recruiting by encouraging the athletes to bring their colleagues as they come for the next sessions.
"We will also reach a point whereby we will share the idea with the local leaders so that whenever they have gatherings, they should pass on the information to the communities," said Msowoya.
Msowoya, who also works for the Malawi National Council of Sports as a Sports Development Officer, urged all coaches who have the ability to train young athletes to use a holistic approach to provide formal training and vocational skills for a sporting career.
Speaking in a separate interview, Basketball Association of Malawi (BASMAL) Secretary General Peter Gomani commended Msowoya for the initiative.
He said the association is also creating a conducive environment for all people to participate in basketball, adding that their goal is to build as many basketball courts as possible across the country to ensure that Malawians have access to watch and play basketball.
"We are partnering with individuals and organizations to support youth and women's basketball development, and we are collaborating with stakeholders who will provide technical development to our officials, as well as investing in infrastructure and equipment," said Gomani.
So far, Msowoya has trained over 1,000 elite athletes in Norway and Sweden, and also over 400 athletes in Mzuzu in the northern region and Lilongwe in the central region.
Communities in Nsanje upbeat with Zurich Project
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, January 14, Mana: Communities in Nsanje have expressed hope with the Zurich Project being implemented by Concern Worldwide for providing tangible solutions to the problems affecting the community in disaster risk management in the district.
Malemia Area Disaster Risk Management Committee Chairperson Arnold Ben made the remarks on Tuesday during a joint monitoring visit on projects implemented under Zurich Project.
Ben said the project is producing fruits as witnessed by tangible developments happening in the district.
“They provided communities with banana suckers and people are able to get money from banana sales. They have also provided resources to the communities for the construction of dykes and water way,” added Ben.
Ben said for a long time organizations have been providing software programmes and handouts only which could not provide solutions to the challenges communities are facing in disaster management.
He, therefore, hailed Concern Worldwide for providing resources that respond to the needs of the community in disaster management.
Ben said the organization has also encouraged decentralization as communities are empowered to take a leading role in implementation of the projects.
Acting Disaster Risk Management for Nsanje District Council, Moses Mumba, said through Zurich Project some community concerns regarding disaster management have been addressed.
“We need such kind of interventions to effectively carry out disaster risk management activities in the communities,” said Mumba.
Concern Worldwide National Programmes Coordinator Tomy Chimpanzi said the organization is piloting disaster related projects in some districts in the country.
“We really need to invest in disaster risk management projects,” he added.
Chimpanzi said among others they are piloting community disaster fund where participating communities are implementing projects that can reduce the risks of disaster.
“In fact, this is a community led initiative and we just provided them with funds to implement the projects. For example, Nthole Village Disaster Risk Management Committee received K8 million which is being used to construct a water way,” he added.
Under Zurich Project, Concern Worldwide has also provided K8 million to communities in the area of Traditional Authority Ngabu where they are constructing a dyke.
Nsanje is one of the districts prone to natural disasters with Cyclone Freddy destroying a lot of infrastructure.
Concern Worldwide is a member of the Zurich Climate Resilience Alliance, a multi-sectoral partnership working to build resilience to climate hazards in rural and urban communities.
Youths in Thyolo commend TRADE Project for livelihood improvement
By Dalitso Kampira
Thyolo, January 14, Mana: Youths in Thyolo have commended the Transforming Agriculture Through Diversification and Entrepreneurship (TRADE) programme for improving their livelihoods.
The commendation was made during the district council’s supervision visit conducted by TRADE in various Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) in the district.
Speaking with Malawi News Agency on Tuesday after a meeting at Goliati Milk Bulking Group Youth Clubs under Matapwata EPA, one of the beneficiaries, Master Jonas said the programme has transformed his life.
“With the introduction of the programme, I have started a business of selling potato chips. I am also a student and the income I earn enables me to pay my school fees independently,” he said.
Another beneficiary, a youthful mother, Aida Mandala, illustrated how the household approach method introduced by the programme has positively contributed to her wellbeing.
“Initially, I didnt understand the importance of working together as a family. But now we collaborate for the benefit of all, regardless of gender roles,” she said.
Mandala added that after being mentored, she set a vision to accomplish certain goals by 2026, many of which have already been achieved.
Jessie Mathiya, an extension worker for Matapwata EPA, hailed TRADE project for equipping the youth with valuable skills and keeping them engaged.
“The project is crucial as it has trained the youth in making cattle feed (silage) to boost milk production, entrepreneurship and managing village savings banks,” Mathiya said.
She encouraged other youths to join similar groups to gain skills and remain active, emphasizing that “the youth need to be proactive, not passive.”
Thyolo District Youth Officer Blessings Major thanked TRADE for the impact it has made on the youth, noting its significant role in uplifting the district's socio-economic profile.
“Under the initiative, the youth are being trained in business management and strategies to increase their income. This instills a spirit of self-reliance and contributes to national development,” he said.
Major, however, emphasized that active youth participation in business and projects reduces unemployment and curbs immoral behaviour stemming from idleness.
Thyolo TRADE Desk Officer Kingsley Masinga disclosed that the programme has trained 15 youths under Goliati Milk Bulking Groups in making cattle feed and other essential skills.
“These trained youths are now running businesses instead of solely relying on employment after school, reflecting a change in mindset,” Masinga said.
The six-year TRADE project is being implemented in Thyolo across four EPAs of Matapwata, Thyolo Central, Dwale and Khonjeni.
Dedza water crisis requires long lasting solution - CRWB
By Zenak Matekenya
Dedza, January 14, Mana: Central Region Water Board (CRWB) says population growth, deforestation and erratic rains are some of the factors that have contributed to water shortage problem in Dedza.
CRWB Chief Executive Officer John Makwenda said the problem requires a comprehensive and sustainable solution.
Makwenda was speaking on Monday when he engaged Dedza residents who planned a vigil at CRWB Dedza offices, accusing the body of failing to implement an even water supply rationing amid the crisis as per agreed in their first meeting of July 3, 2024.
He said the board’s major source of water is Dedza Mountain, whose supply has dwindled over the years due to loss of vegetation cover amid population growth.
“Dedza Mountain is our major source of water. We lost many trees around the mountain hence the problem. We brought in other measures, such as drilling boreholes and installing water pumps. However, these solutions have met other challenges like inconsistence supply of power,” he said.
Makwenda said the board had presented a comprehensive water supply project proposal to government, suggesting the problem would need over K40 billion and that other districts such as Ntcheu are also in need.
He assured Dedza residents that in the interim the board will intensify the water rationing programme, replace four water pumps at borehole sites by Friday, January 17, and examine and fix pipe lines that are not producing water probably due to blockage or low pressure to mitigate the crisis.
Ministry of Water and Sanitation Director of Water Supply Services, Prince Mleta, promised allocation of a gen-set from the ministry within the week to boost electricity supply for pumping water at Dauya, one of the sites the board had drilled its boreholes.
“On top of the solar panels which are not sufficing the demand and also that at times we experience power outages, the Ministry will provide a standby gen-set at Dauya,” he said.
He further said government is working in collaboration with CRWB to do away with water shortage in the district, saying this needs construction of dams as a reliable source of water, among others.
“CRWB has made plans and requests which have gone through the Ministry of Water, and the Water Ministry is engaging with the Ministry of Finance to have funds released or lobby for donors to have these projects implemented as soon as possible,” he explained.
Chairperson for Concerned CRWB Water Users Group, which planned the vigil, Medson Gova, expressed satisfaction with the meeting’s resolutions.
“Failure to implement these resolutions will prompt us to take another action. In fact, our plan today was to conduct a peaceful vigil at Dedza CRWB offices,” he said.
During the meeting, residents claimed Dedza Roadblock area did not have access to water for close to two years.
They also bemoaned monthly payment of service fee to the board as injustice to households that never accessed water from the board for many months to which Makwenda said it is legally binding and hard for the board to promise a consideration.
CRWB has over 5,000 clients in Dedza and has updated its rationing programme attributed to erratic rains. The board has advised its clients that the rationing schedule may be affected by power outages, pipe breakdowns and other factors.
Dedza District Council mediated the meeting between the board and the residents.
Councils benefit from new World Bank funded climate resilience programme
By Evance Chisiano
Blantyre, January 14, Mana: Ministry of Local Government, Unity and Culture on Tuesday signed grant agreement with 28 district councils which will see the local authorities benefiting from a five-year Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Climate Resilience Programme 2 (RCRP 2) in improving resilience to water related climate shocks, among others.
Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda presided over the RCRP 2 signing agreement at Armyllis Hotel in Blantyre on top of launching Local Authorities Financial Management Sanction guidelines for proper utilization of funds and adherence to proper procurement procedures.
Chimwendo Banda said the RCPR 2 in Malawi was an indication of donor confidence in the country and stressed that his ministry will continue enforcing all necessary measures that shall ensure proper finance prudence and other fiscal measures in local authorities to maintain donor trust.
“Let us utilize resources prudently. The resources are meant for the communities, we are only custodians,” the minister appealed to district commissioners.
He further cautioned local authorities against mismanagement of financial resources and other forms of fiscal indiscipline that have potential of limiting funding at the expense of Malawians in their respective councils.
“Financial mismanagement, procurement malpractices, abuse of resources and underperformance in councils will not be tolerated at any cost,” said Chimwendo Banda who was accompanied by the ministry's newly appointed Deputy Minister Joyce Chitsulo.
The district councils received dummy cheques with amounts ranging from about K295 million to about K1.3 billion in the first cycle of January to June 2025.
Thyolo District Commissioner Hudson Kuphanga said he was happy that Thyolo Council received K1.1 billion in the first cycle.
He indicated that this will be used to rehabilitate a number of destroyed infrastructures, ranging from schools to health posts in the district.
Gwengwe urges legume cooperatives to engage in crop diversification
By George Bulombola
Mzuzu, January 14, Mana: Ministry of Trade and Industry Sosten Gwengwe has urged legume cooperatives to embark on crop production diversification, as legumes have readily available markets.
Gwengwe was speaking Monday when he interacted with members of Team North Cooperative Society which is based in Mzimba North District.
He said the existence of international companies that use raw soya beans, groundnuts and beans for production of various commodities like cooking oil and therapeutic products is an indication that Malawi has great potential in agriculture production.
“I therefore urge all legume cooperatives across the country to consider growing more legumes. Malawi signed a trade protocol with China through which Malawi will be exporting soya beans.
“Bakhresa Malawi Limited, in a few coming months, will be inaugurating its 500 metric ton soya beans crashing plant and this is an indication to other companies and individuals who use soya for various products that soya beans has the market,” said Gwengwe.
He then advised cooperatives to embrace use of modern farming technologies for improved productivity on small pieces of land, considering that farming land is shrinking due to population boom and construction.
“Use of modern technologies in farming will lead to production of more produce from small pieces of land and enhanced value addition for produce to compete on both local and international markets,” he said.
Chairperson for Team North Cooperative Society, Chimwemwe Sibale, said the organization has secured a market for beans in Kenya and applauded Ministry of Trade and Industry for facilitating the achievement.
“We thank Agriculture Commercialization (AGCOM) Project for providing a grant of about K131 million with the society’s 10 percent contribution totaling to about K188 million.
“This grant was invested in farming productive asserts which include Massey Ferguson Tractor and its accessories such as plough, harrower, ridger and planter, besides using the money for procuring multipurpose thresher and part of it was used to build a warehouse,” said Sibale.
The 56 membership society envisions to realize K210 million and K300 million from sales of beans and soya beans respectively in the current growing season.
4 arrested for theft of motorcycles
By Aubrey Ghambi
Nkhata Bay, January 14, Mana: Police in Nkhata Bay have arrested four men suspected to have stolen motorbikes in the areas of Chikale, Mpamba and Mkondezi in the district.
According to Nkhata Bay Police spokesperson Kondwani James, the suspects were arrested following investigations after complaints were instituted by the victims.
James identified the four as Brighton Mbewe, aged 31, of Muwanga Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwaulambya in Chitipa District, Nickson Simpungwe, 27, of Chapema Village, T/A Timbiri in Nkhata Bay District, 31-year-old Lazaro Ndhlovu of Maleni Village, T/A Mzukuzuku and 19-year-old Chimwemwe Chizumira of Kathazi Village of T/A Kampingosibande in Mzimba District.
“The four were arrested in Mzuzu on January 13 this year," said James.
James added that the suspects then led the investigators to a place where they had hidden the motorcycles which were successfully recovered with their engine and chasis numbers tampered with to conceal their identity.
He said the suspects have been charged with burglary and theft and that they will soon appear in the court.
Police in the district are, therefore, urging communities to enhance security around their homes as a way of safeguarding properties.
