MANAonline
Titukulane project orients Mangochi farmers on market links
By Lyte Ali
Mangochi, December 19, Mana: A total of 122 farmers from six traditional authorities in Mangochi have graduated as private service providers (PSP) after undergoing three years of training on farm inputs proper management and market links courtesy of the USAID-funded Titukulane project.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony, on Wednesday, Mangochi District Council, Chairperson, Councilor, Abudul Yusuf, urged the farmers to utilize the acquired skills to improve farmers' livelihoods.
"Limited markets for farmers is one the challenges our district faces. I am therefore delighted to note that this project focused on the establishment of market linkages to ensure that our farmers have access to good markets.
‘‘These skilled individuals will help to bridge the gap between farmers and markets, a challenge the district has faced for a long time. By connecting farmers to markets, we expect that there should be enough market, benefiting both farmers and the local economy," he added.
He, therefore, commended Titukulane Project and its partners for supporting Mangochi District Council in empowering farmers to be self-reliant for sustainable agriculture.
In his remarks, Project Manager for Titukulane in Mangochi, Gerald Meke, said the project goal was to help bring a positive impact on agriculture to farmers in Mangochi, by assisting them to access better markets for their produce as well as by reducing hunger in the district.
He added that many small-scale farmers in Mangochi realize good harvests but are often exploited on the market due to limited formal markets.
"We equipped them with skills of cooperatives so that they should sell their produce as groups," he said.
Titukulane was a five-year project implemented by a consortium of organizations, including Emmanuel International, Care Malawi, and Save the Children, with funding from USAID, and it phased out its activities in December 2024.
Council urges vendors to utilize newly constructed market
By Milcah Mathias
Blantyre, December 19, Mana: Blantyre District Council has urged vendors plying their trade along the road at Mpemba Trading Centre to relocate and occupy the space in the newly constructed Mpemba Market from Monday, December 23, 2024.
Speaking during the sensitization awareness meeting at Mpemba Trading Centre, Blantyre District Council Trade Officer, Pilirani Nyangulu Mbwana said the decision to relocate would help prevent accidents that occur when vendors conduct business along the road.
“This market shed will therefore facilitate safe and easy trading among buyers and sellers,” Mbwana said.
Meanwhile, the council has issued a warning that it will engage the police if vendors do not abide by the order.
Chairperson for Mpemba Market Committee, Frano Chimenya commended the council for constructing the market shed to ensure vendors sell their merchandise at designated places.
Chimenya also pledged to take ownership by mobilizing the business community to utilize the structure.
“Let us cooperate and go to the market shed as this is for the benefit of us all. We asked the council to construct the market for us, now that it is here, let us not resist using the new place,” said Chimenya.
One of the vendors, Alinafe Somanje said she had already relocated, as she wanted to conduct her business in a safe and conducive environment during the rainy season.
Somanje, therefore, urged fellow vendors to patronize the new market saying the market will show its full importance when the vendors relocate as customers go to where the products are.
The market shed has been constructed using the council's locally generated revenue to the tune of K43 million.
It is expected to accommodate at least 60 business people from Mpemba Trading Centre and surrounding areas.
NEEF gives Zomba farmers fertilizer on loans
By Emily M'mangisa
Zomba, December 19, Mana: National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) on Wednesday distributed bags of fertilizer to 148 farmers from farmers clubs in Zomba on loan as a way of supporting those who could not afford to buy fertilizer.
Speaking during fertilizer distribution at NEEF office in Zomba, NEEF Supervisor responsible for Zomba North, Hastings Thondolo, disclosed that his office had 236 applicants in total, saying all will get the farm inputs.
Thodolo said NEEF decided to give farmers farm inputs other than the actual cash to ensure the purpose and goal is achieved.
"We didn’t want our farmers to spend money meant for fertilizer. Experience is that most farmers failed to buy fertilizer despite getting the loans.” he added.
He however said NEEF had not wholesomely abandoned giving out loans in the form of cash despite the experience.
Zione Jakison, a farmer from Jawuma Village, Traditional Authority Malemia thanked government for providing the fertilizer through NEEF loan.
The fertilizer loan recipient said the farm inputs came at the right time as some parts of the district had just received enough rain for planting.
“I am running out of words, this initiative is a big salvation to me. Honestly, government has solved my worries,” she said,
Emmanuel Kalimao from Chilema Men's farm club was delighted after collecting his four bags of NPK fertilizer.
“I am waiting to get the other four for UREA next week; I am getting eight bags all together. I thank government for this initiative. Honestly, I was hopeless," he said.
Farmer clubs are eligible to get fertilizer loans up to K30 million for NPK and UREA, according to NEEF.
Kingstons are Go Fresh’s Brand Ambassadors
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, December 19, Mana: Go Fresh Limited has unveiled Dorothy and Zeze Kingston as their ambassadors saying this has potential to promote their brand and services in the country.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday evening in Lilongwe, one of Go Fresh’s representatives Mathews Kamaliza said they thought of having the two as ambassadors so that they can help to promote their products.
He said Go Fresh is committed to provide high-quality products with good prices in all regions.
“As Go Fresh, a company that provides quality meat and chicken products in Malawi we thought of having influential people who will help us to market the products,” he said.
Commenting on the deal, Kingston said it is exciting to see that local firms are seeing the value that individuals in the social and creative space are bringing in the formal sector and business places.
“We are happy with this partnership because it will help us to create new opportunities for the business to thrive as we will also be encouraging people to buy their products like Chicken and Beef in different shops,” said Kingston.
The company has given the brand ambassadors K5 million and a brand-new car for easy mobility.
In addition to that the company has also given out gifts to Social Media influencers as one way of creating relations with them.
Go Fresh Limited is a company that deals with Beef and Chicken production in the country and it was established in 2020.
From crop fields to the classroom: community battles child labour
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, December 19, Mana: It is a class time at Chankhandwe Primary School, some 30 kilometres west of Kasungu Boma in the area of Senior Chief Kawamba.
The schoolmaster, Lovemore Chisema notices that 12-year-old Robert (not real name) is again not in class for a good five days in a row and develops some curiosity to follow up on the Standard 7 boy known to be intelligent and ambitious.
What follows now is a search for the little genius, led by members of Chankhandwe Social Dialogue Committee, a community structure that fights child labour and promotes decent labour practices in the area.
“We were suspicious of the boy’s absence and knew that it wasn’t a case of illness. During the farming season, he was assisting parents with farm work.
“It was a straightforward issue that the boy had to be brought back to school and the parents were cautioned and mentored against such acts,” Chisema explains.
He says Robert’s issue is not an uncommon phenomenon in the area where many households are poor subsistence farmers who depend on family labour in both piece works and their own farms.
“Children from poor families are easily enticed to go into farms because they are already discouraged from attending classes as they lack school uniforms, notebooks and other necessities like food.
“This is why when we pluck them from farms, we support them with such materials so that they stay in school,” he adds.
Chisema says with the intervention of the social dialogue committee, there is a significant reduction in child labour cases and an increasing opportunity for children to stay in school.
Dialogue committees like Chankhandwe are specifically grassroots mechanisms for promoting decent labour practices under the Malawi Congress for Trade Union and Tobacco Allied Workers Union as supported by the International Labour Organization.
Florence Manda who is the chairperson for the committee at Chankhandwe says community initiatives to promote decent work practices have borne fruits in that many children have been removed from hazardous work environments and supported so that they remain in school.
The United Nation’s ILO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and support from the Norwegian Government, is implementing a four-year ‘Addressing decent work deficits and improving access to rights in Malawi’s tobacco sector’ (Address) project in Traditional Authorities Wimbe and Kawamba in Kasungu.
The project aims to identify and address labour issues in the tobacco sector and ensure access to fundamental principles and rights at work as a means to improve livelihoods, income and food security.
Specifically, the Address Project aims to address child labour and abuse in tobacco estates and farms, ensuring the occupational health and safety of workers, abolishing the tenancy system, and improving the social welfare of the workers.
It supports the implementation of the country’s National Action Plan on Child Labour (2020-2025) which guides the elimination of child labour in the country’s sectors of the economy by 2025.
Additionally, the project echoes Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7 which calls for immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced and child labour.
Manda says the issue of child labour goes beyond working in tobacco farms hence their committee targets other areas where there could be child exploitation.
“The ILO trained us on how we can contribute to ending child labour, especially in the agriculture sector targeting tobacco farms so that children are protected.
“However, child labour is not limited to that. Some people employ children to herd their cattle, and sell merchandise and still some use children to beg in the streets. We aim to end all such malpractices,” Manda says.
She says in most cases, children are not the employees themselves but parents who are contracted to work on the farms and use their children as supplementary labour, which results in the children missing out on classes.
“We are also aware that these children are found in the farms because of the poverty in the households they come from. With that understanding, we raise resources to support their education with uniforms, notebooks, and pens and award those who do well at the end of a particular school term.
“For parents, we engage them in a serious dialogue so that they understand the consequences of using child labour. It is pleasing that many parents easily understand this and if there could be anyone refusing to take the advice we give, we let the law take its course,” she says.
Manda also appeals to authorities to help construct classroom blocks at the school to attract learners.
She argues that dilapidated and makeshift structures being used as classrooms discourage learners from being in school.
On his part, Village Headman Changaluwa of the area expresses hope that soon his community will be without child labour cases.
“We have started on a good note. Just to ensure that these efforts are sustained, we have a village savings and loans group through which we raise money to support the children.
“Additionally, we cultivate various crops such as soybean and vegetables which we sell to raise money to support the learners,” Changulawa says, adding that 37 children have already benefitted from the efforts.
ILO’s National Project Officer, Ndamyo Kabuye notes that there are many challenges in the tobacco sector and agriculture in general regarding decent work practices.
“These groups are assisting to reduce these challenges which include child employment, the practice of not paying workers, tenancy labour arrangements and lack of occupation and safety health.
“We trained them to promote decent labour practices but they have gone beyond the project support. They are doing more. These are clear indications of community ownership of the project which signals that the activities will be sustained beyond the programme timeframe,” Kabuye said.
Decent labour practices also demand that the workers in the farms should have a clear contract agreed and signed by both the worker and the employer to guide the work process and avoid misunderstandings and exploitation.
Where only one member of the family is contracted, it is against the law to force the other non-contracted members of the family to work on the farms.
Kabuye says ILO’s role is to assist employers, workers and government to champion good work practices in the labour industry.
“In the tobacco industry, particularly, we must ensure that the interests of both workers and employers are protected. We want to encourage dialogue between the two parties and avoid exploitative practices.
“International labour standards demand that people of all genders have equal rights, responsibility and opportunities. In this regard, we also want to see that there are no abuses based on gender lines in the workplaces,” he says.
A 2023 report by the US Bureau of International Labour Affairs on the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Malawi notes that the country has made moderate advancement in efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.
This follows efforts by the government to enact the laws abolishing the tenancy labour system and mandating growers of tobacco to annually report on their efforts to prevent child labour in order to maintain their licenses to sell tobacco.
The report also says by substantially increasing resources in the cash transfer programme and roping in additional beneficiaries in urban councils, children from households vulnerable to child labour could be safe.
However, the report notes that although the government legally abolished the tenancy system in 2021, research indicates that children continue to be subjected to forced labour conditions.
“In addition, orphaned children may need to assume responsibility as heads of their households, including working to support their families. These children, especially those who become orphaned, are at increased risk of leaving school early and entering into the worst forms of child labour,” the report adds.
With this indication, efforts such as those by Chankhandwe Social Dialogue Committee will need replication to other communities so that learners like Robert stay away from farms.
Thyolo District authorities call for collaborative efforts to keep children in school
By Beni Bamusi
Thyolo, December 19, Mana: Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) held community awareness on child education in Thyolo where district authorities called on chiefs, religious leaders, parents, and guardians to ensure children stay in school as the district records high school dropout rate.
Thyolo District Council, Chairperson, Petro Bowman said on Wednesday at Kozalendo Primary School in Traditional Authority Mbawera that the dropout rate of children from schools continues to swell each passing day.
He commended CAMFED for supporting girl child education through the provision of school fees, exercise books, uniforms and other educational materials to needy students in secondary schools as one way of supporting children to stay in school uninterrupted by poverty.
The Council Chairperson however expressed concern over the high school dropout rate in the district, which he said needs collaborative efforts to address.
“Education is the foundation of development. CAMFED is doing commendable work, it is, therefore, everyone's responsibility to ensure children stay in school and we need to address the problem,” said Bowman.
Thyolo District, Chief Education Officer, Rabbeca Misiri, disclosed that in the 2022/2023 academic year, Thyolo registered 277 dropouts, with 187 boys and 190 girls.
“This 5.4 percent dropout rate is higher than the national average of 4.3 percent. This is mainly attributed to poverty, long distances to schools, sexual harassment, and lack of basic needs," she added.
She urged the community to implement bylaws to ensure that children return to school and remain in school, emphasizing that education is a right for every child, including those with disabilities.
“Education is a long-term investment. Children must be resilient to hardships, and communities must support them to complete their education,” she said.
Traditional Authority Mbawera hailed CAMFED for supporting needy children’s education, observing that CAMFED’s support enabled children in Thyolo to progress from secondary to tertiary education.
He urged parents and guardians to make use of the messages shared during the campaign and to priorities children’s education as the most important thing above all.
CAMFED campaign was held under them; School Dropout is Real; It is Our Responsibility to Make Children Stay in School and was aimed at drumming collective support to keep children in school.
DoDMA rescues Nkhotakota people
By Wongani Mkandawire
Nkhotakota, December 18, Mana: Malawi Government, through the Department of Disaster and Risk Management Affair (DoDMA), has distributed relief items to households that were affected by stormy rains that hit early this month in the areas of Traditional Authorities (TA) Mphonde and TA Kafuzira in Nkhotakota District.
Speaking to Malawi News Agency (MANA) on Wednesday, one of the beneficiaries from Mvula Village, Cecilia Skana, thanked government for coming to their rescue saying since her house was destroyed she has been staying a destitute life.
"When my house got destroyed, I was stranded and everything was hard because I had no food, but now I will find something to eat with my family," said Skana.
Another Beneficiary, Robert Khuka from Chidzuma Village in TA Mphonde also praised government saying the relief items have come at a time he could not afford to buy a 50-kilogramme bag of maize at the market.
"I am very happy and grateful for the donation, at least hunger issues will be reduced in my household," said Khuka.
Nkhotakota District Council Disaster and Risk Management Officer, Rhomatchinga Nkhata, described the donation as the most timely intervention by making efforts to reach out 487 households that were affected by the stormy rains in the district.
Curriculum revision key in re-aligning education
By Fostina Mkandawire
Salima, December 18, Mana: Ministry of Education has underscored the need to create a strategic educational system that responds to learners' needs and empowers them to reach their full potential.
Speaking during the national symposium on curriculum and assessment review for schools and colleges, on Tuesday in Salima, Secretary for Education, Mangani Chilala Katundu, articulated that by Standard 4, Malawian learners must be able to read, write and solve simple mathematics.
“As we share findings of the needs assessment study, let us remember that the decisions we make here will have lasting impacts on the future of our children and our nation,” he said.
Katundu said the country's education system must help in building human capital that can propel the country into the right development channels.
He added: "The country's curriculum must be aligned with the Agenda 2063, where there has to be a shift in the way we perceive things and how our minds analyze issues. In short, it should build individuals, who are skilled in life and who have high moral standards."
Katundu emphasized the importance of establishing education systems that will help fulfil the aspirations of Malawi 2063 and contribute to building the human capital needed for the country's development.
He said, a curriculum framework that will provide a blueprint in every sector that is pertinent to the country's development must be put in place.
"This symposium is a culmination of different stakeholders meeting aimed at soliciting views. Therefore, the views will be consolidated and form a tangible curriculum that applies to the modern day," he said.
Executive Director for Malawi Institute of Education, Frank Mtemang’ombe, said there is a need to bring back civic and moral education in schools since it helps learner development.
"From research and different perspectives, we have established that the focus of education has been on the cognitive part and left out important skills of morals, cycle motor skills, and craft-related subjects. We need to bring back such lessons, education must play a role in shaping learners to be independent and stand up on their own," he said.
He, therefore, said the symposium will come up with a resolution after identifying gaps and come up with solutions.
Mtemang’ombe urged different stakeholders in the education sector to join hands and deliver quality education across the country.
The four-day symposium is being held under the theme “curriculum change and innovation: Towards achieving an inclusively wealthy and self reliant nation.
Market structures crucial for increased revenue collection
By Wanangwa Tembo
Kasungu, December 18, Mana: Senior Chief Chisemphere of Kasungu says modern market structures are crucial in attracting businesses, which could help councils to collect more revenue for financing development initiatives.
The chief made the remarks on Tuesday when Kasungu District Council Finance Service Committee toured various development initiatives including Chamama Market sheds in Kasungu North East Constituency.
Chisemphere said good market structures have potential to attract more business people and makes the council generate the much-needed revenue.
“People would be willing to pay market fees if they operate their businesses in good structures like these and that means more revenue for the council which can help fund other development projects.
“We just have to speed up finalizing the related facilities such as the ablution block so that the market becomes operational,” Chisemphere said.
He said the eastern side of the district is a production hub for most agricultural commodities such as Irish potato, maize and vegetables hence requiring modern market facilities to facilitate trade.
Chairperson for the market, Ajibu Mpalume, said while the vendors are excited about the project, they are worried that the facility is taking too long to become functional.
“We understand that electricity is not yet connected and that the toilets are not yet ready. Therefore, our appeal to authorities is that they should hasten to put those facilities so that the market becomes functional.
“This is a busy marketplace where a lot of agricultural produce that feeds the district is sold. We requested for a proper structure where we can be conducting our businesses and we are happy that we got one,” Mpalume said.
Funded under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD), the first phase of the project cost K115 million to erect the market sheds while in the second phase, the council has spent K70 million on the ablution block still under construction.
In a separate interview, Senior Planning Officer for National Local Government Finance Committee, Charity Kaunda, advised councils to adopt a complete package approach ensuring that all basic components of projects are available to make the constructed facilities functional immediately after they are completed.
“At the same time, we are also promoting co-financing. If we know that the GESD resources cannot accommodate all the components, councils should source additional financing through the Constituency Development Fund or District Development Fund,” Kaunda said.
Since the inception of GESD project in 2021, Kasungu District Council has received close to K3.7 billion in performance-based grants under the project.
Director of Public Works for Kasungu District Council, Davie Chigwenembe, said some of this year’s funds will go towards purchasing support items that will open the already completed structures for use.
President Chakwera responds to MPs
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, December 18, Mana: President Dr Lazarus Chakwera has addressed key questions surrounding the economy, agriculture and transport from Members of Parliament (MPs).
Speaking Wednesday at Parliament in Lilongwe, the President elaborated on concerns over wasteful spending and excessive borrowing.
He said his government has regained donor confidence, as evidenced by direct budgetary support and the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He said, the economy has faced significant challenges such as Cholera outbreak, climate change disasters which affected the economy so badly.
“Government will continue to borrow within its limits to ensure provision of essential services to the public and progress is being made in debt restructuring with China, India and other multilateral lenders to ease pressure on public debt,” said Chakwera.
The President was asked asked on why government has no intentions of reversing the law that prioritizes local contractors.
In his response, Chakwera said his administration is committed to ensuring that local contractors are empowered.
He said government will find ways to develop capacity of local contractors to complete projects within the specified time frame and to ensure they deliver standard services.
The Malawi leader was then asked to explain if they are any plans to secure or revamp the country’s own airline to impose air transport in the region.
In his response Chakwera stated that government priorities the expansion of Malawi Airlines to also be going to Mzuzu and Karonga, a project expected to start in February 2025.
“Government plans to extend Malawi Airlines routes to Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique and Uganda. We are also discussing with Angola, Botswana, Nigeria and Mauritius to add international destinations,” he said.
Chakwera was also asked on plans to ensure timely and effective delivery of the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) to which he said government has allocated K94 billion to fund the program.
He informed the house that this year's strategy focuses on prioritizing hard-to-reach areas in the country.
“I am assuring all MPs here that all registered farmers will receive fertilizer within the farming season in all constituencies,” he said.
Chakwera acknowledged that forex shortages has affected the importation of fertilizer that is why in other areas they have not received yet.
