By Aubrey Kashoni

Thyolo, July 31, Mana: Thyolo District Council has elected Councilor Listen Banda as its new Chairperson with Idrissa Gausi as his vice.

The Council held its elections on Monday where Banda defeated Maggie Kambewa and Magrisa Zuze while Gausi outclassed Petrol Bomani and James Sayenda.

Speaking after the elections, Banda said he will continue from where the outgoing chair has left in as far as development is concerned in the district.

He said he will engage all relevant stakeholders to promote development activities in the district and ensure that the Council is delivering positively.

"Bringing good development need good communication. As such, I will make sure that there is proper coordination among the Council members and the people in the district.

“I will also work hand in hand with the Council on Community Development Fund and other government resources to ensure it is being used for its intended purpose,” he said.

Outgoing Chairperson, George Matiya said, during his tenure, he brought unity between Council directors and the office of the District Commissioner hence urged the newly elected Chair to consult him where need be.

The election was graced by Members of Parliament, District Executive Committee members, Ward Councilors, officials from the Malawi Electoral Commission and Traditional Authorities, among others.

By Aliko Munde

Chitipa, July 31, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security has given a nod to government to relocate a refugee camp from Dzaleka to Kayilizi area in Chitipa.

Chairperson for the Committee, Ralph Jooma hailed government for the move to relocate Dzaleka Refugee Camp to Kayilizi saying the area is ideal for the camp.

Jooma said this Sunday after touring the proposed area in Senior Chief Mwenewenya in Chitipa District.

"We have shortage of land at Dzaleka which has 201 hectares of land while here we have 330 hectares which is a great improvement and ideal for a refugee camp," Jooma said.

Jooma said his Committee was impressed with the land as it is bigger and close to the border unlike Dzaleka which is in the interior of the country thereby raising security concerns.

He expressed his Committee’s gratitude to traditional leaders and the people of Kayizili for welcoming the development saying the refugee camp will also fast track development in areas such as education, health, trade and road infrastructure.

In his remarks, Group Village Head Kayilizi dismissed rumours of resistance by his subjects.

"My people have welcomed the project wholeheartedly. Actually, this is a very rural area and it would have taken ages for us to reach urbanisation. However, with the coming of the camp, we stand to benefit in all sectors," said Kayilizi.

Government decided to close Dzaleka Refugee Camp and find a new site close to the northern borders of the country as one way of improving refugee management.

By Shaffie Bakali

Mangochi, July 31, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says media practitioners have a critical role of raising awareness on new electoral laws to the general public as new guidelines for electoral processes.

The new electoral laws; Constitution (amendment) Act, Electoral (amendment) Act and Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections act, all become in effect in 2023.

Speaking to Mangochi-based journalists on Saturday, MEC chairman of Research, Evaluation and Monitoring committee who is also member of Media, Civic and Voter Education, Commissioner Dr Emmanuel Fabiano said journalists are key players in educating the public about the newly amended electoral laws.

"Journalists are very close to people and we have imparted knowledge in them so that the knowledge reaches the public through programs and articles of their respective radio stations and newspapers," Fabiano said.

The Commissioner also challenged journalists in the country to maintain fairness, accuracy and objectivity when reporting matters related to elections.

In his remarks, one of the participants, District Information Officer for Mangochi, Bishop Witmos commended MEC for the training, saying that it was an eye opener.

Witmos therefore assured MEC that the media in Mangochi will work collaboratively with the commission in disseminating electoral information and educating the public to ensure that communities are able to make informed decisions.

Currently the commission is in preparation for by-elections of councilor for Mwasa ward in Mangochi Central Constituency, and Mtiya ward in Zomba Central Constituency, scheduled to take place on 26 of September this year.

One of the amendments made to the Constitution is in section 36 (2) where by-elections will be held within 30 days from the day that the position became vacant and no by-elections within 12 months to the general elections.

On the other hand, Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections act classifies defamation or downplaying as not fair form of campaign and thus subject to court sanctions while fine for obstructing electoral processes is K10 million or in default serve five years in jail.

These new guidelines were approved in parliament in December of 2022 and became effective on June 15, this year.

By Twimepoki Mangani

Lilongwe, July 28, Mana: Federalism Institute has re-echoed the need for a democratic governance revolution in the country in order to build a just and equitable society that will attain its full economic potential.

According to a joint press statement issued by the Federalism Institute,Youth Rise up and Economic Representative platform on Thursday, Federalism has the capacity to improve living standards and uphold personal freedoms.

“For years, Malawi has been struggling with a multitude of challenges, including lack of industrialization and lack of technological and infrastructure development. The country remains one of the least developed nations in the world given that the majority of its people live on less than a dollar per day an issue successive governments have failed to adequately address.”

“Since gaining independence in 1964 Malawians have suffered under a unitary system of governance founded on injustice, self-centered interest and manipulation of smallholder farmers,” reads the report in part.

The Statement indicated that alternative governance systems have deterred investors, and left high unemployment rates which largely affects the youth while leaving the rich natural resources under-utilized.

The Institute has written to Malawi Electoral Commission requesting that they cease preparation for the next elections until there has been a thorough evaluation of the governance systems and the progress made thus far.

Speaking on the sidelines of a press briefing at Crossroads Hotel in Lilongwe, Leader of Federalism Institute, Lusungu Mwakhwawas aid they are set to initiate a referendum process for Malawians to choose which system they want.

He said the federal system of governance was ideal since it works in every nation used while further noting its capacity to address corruption.

“We are already at the first phase of federalism; we have already done administrative de-concentration, what remains are the political de-concentration, where you give people the power to decide how they want to be governed.”

“Corruption is a syndrome but with an adopted federal system, institutions like the Anti- corruption Bureau , which are not fully independent in practice will become so because we shall look at issues to do with institution reform therefore bringing government closer to the people,” he said

Simba added that though the Federal Institute was set close the country’s airports and borders on August 20, 2023 in a bid to advance their revolution, they are always open to engagein dialogue with leaders because they are law abiding citizens.

Representative of Youth Rise Up, Isaac Kathumba said once people have power there would be good governance and investors would ably make contributions to the country.

By Manasse Nyirenda

Rumphi, July 21, Mana: Councilor for Chinyolo/Mphompha Ward has been elected as new council chairperson for Rumphi District Council replacing councilor for Chitimba/Mchenga Ward, Gilbert Kasambara after leading the council for one year.

Munyembe beat Councilor for Nkhamanga Ward Alfred Butao by eight votes to three during a full council meeting held on Friday.

Munyembe has urged various sectors of the council to work together in order to achieve a common goal to improve the welfare of the people of Rumphi.

He also chaired the council from 2020 to 2021.

He will be deputies by councilor for Tcharo Ward, Starch Galatiya Kondowe.

Former chairperson, Gilbert Kasambara urged the new leadership to focus on development for the benefit of people of Rumphi.

By Twimepoki Mangani

Lilongwe July 25 Mana: Leader of the House in the National Assembly, Richard Chimwendo Banda has guaranteed that the second meeting of the National Assembly would  be productive and ensure Malawi was served better.

He made the remarks Monday on the side lines of the 50^th session of Parliament in Lilongwe.

Banda who is also Minister of Local Government said the meetings would seek to accomplish their traditional objective in ably discussing bills and ministerial statements with assurance that such engagements aid in answering a hand full of questions the public have.

“We have nine bills which are ready, then through ministerial statements, Ministers will share what they are doing in their ministries just as demonstrated by Minister of Lands, who spoke of availability of land for local and international investors and efforts to improve provision of title deeds.”

“We shall focus on over 40 oversight reports from nearly all Parliamentary Committees, and for the first time Ministers will respond to reports because the standing overs are clear that after 14 days Ministers should respond to reports that are fully debated and adopted in the house,” he added.

Speaker of National Assembly, Catherine Gotani Hara announced the status of the bills that were passed during the last Parliamentary meeting held from February to April, 2023 as she paved the way forward.

“I wish to inform the house that President, Dr  Lazarus Chakwera has assented to bills which were passed by this house and the bills were published in the gazetteeffectively making them laws of this country,”

“In the first week the house will consider all outstanding issues such as ministerial statements, questions to ministers for oral reply, bills, statutory reports and private members business,” she said.

14 bills in total were assented including; bill number 1 of 2023, Malawi University of Science and Technology amendment and bill number 2 of 2023, International development association, water and sanitation.

Minister of Lands, Deus Gumba presented a statement on Access to Land for Urban Development and progress on implementation of the Land reforms programme.

Members of Parliament gave observations afterwards, including MP for Chitipa South, Welani Chilenga who inquired what the ministry was doing on matters on encroachment such as at Jacaranda forest reserve.

 In his response, Gumba didn’t say much stating that the matter was in court with belief that the Attorney General was ably representing government.

The Second meeting of the National Assembly in the 50^thsessions of Parliament is expected to conclude on August 18, 2023.

By Robert Nayeja

Dar es Salaam, June 25, Mana: Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sosten Gwengwe says, African Human Capital Heads of state summit taking place in Tanzania will accelerate economic opportunities among the youth in Malawi.

Gwendwe made the remarks on Monday in Dar ES Salaam Tanzania, where the continental Summit is taking place.

The Malawi leader, President Dr Lazarus MacCarthy Chakwera is expected to attend the summit which will be held from 25th to 26th July, 2023 at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre

He said World Bank being one of the big partners in development has organized the summit to look at issues of Human Capital development and how it can assist in the development of people in Africa including Malawi.

“This Summit will foster technical discussion and also provide a platform where, experiences will be shared on human capital. As a nation we will benefit a lot as we will be able to explore how best we should reach out to the young generation with economic opportunities,” said Gwengwe

Gwengwe added that the two-day summit will bring a bottom-up demand to human capital prioritization and investments in African countries by discussing challenges and bottlenecks to human capital accumulation along with identification of priorities and drivers of growth.

Gwengwe said the President has been invited to speak on demographic dividend, with a consideration that Malawi has a young population which needs special attention in order to hasten creation of economic opportunities such as jobs and skills development.

The Africa Human Capital Heads of State Summit comes in response to engagements with government focal points on the need to draw attention to the role of human capital in economic growth.

 The (JNICC) summit will be held under the theme, “linking investments in human capital to economic growth and harnessing the demographic dividend, by addressing learning poverty and the skills gap for youth and women.

Learning poverty is the share of children unable to read and understand a simple text by the age of 10, estimated to be 89% in Africa.

By Memory Chatonda

BLANTYRE, July 21, Mana: Blantyre district council through the agriculture sector has launched a district-based catchment conservation management project to address land degradation problems and climate change impacts

 Launching the project on Thursday at Mkajdi sub-catchment in Kunthembwe EPA in Blantyre, District Commissioner Alex Mdooko described the project as essential for stimulating interest and mobilising communities for action in the implementation of climate-smart agriculture practices and other integrated catchment management.

"This project which falls under the World Bank-funded Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) is the continuation of the Shire River basin project that was implemented in this area some years ago to curtail the production of charcoal which was hugely practiced by some communities.

"This is why today we are launching this catchment conservation to encourage communities to participate in conservation management work to restore the environment and very soon, such participating members will be provided with matching grants to venture into non-charcoal businesses to support their livelihoods," he said.

He then encouraged communities to participate in the catchment conservation in large numbers and also take ownership of the project to ensure that there is sustainability.

In her remarks, Chief Agriculture Officer for Blantyre District Mphatso Kafuwa said in the project, participants will be involved in the management of village forest areas, and also land resource management activities such as the construction of swales, and tree planting exercises among others.

One of the beneficiaries Eneless Lungu of Mkajdi catchment hailed the project, encouraging other communities to participate in its implementation.

Lungu who is also the chairperson of the Mkajdi Catchment Management Committee attested: "From the time we started implementing catchment conservation and other climate-smart agriculture in this place, our crop yields have been doubled sometimes tripled in each passing year and we have also managed to engage in livestock production.

“...and today we are more than happy that as the launch of the project means our lives will continue to be transformed for the better both socially and economically.”

The catchment management launch was held under the theme ‘integrated catchment management for improved food security and climate resilience.

By Willy Kadewere

Chikwawa, July 25, Mana: Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) under Chikwawa Diocese Social Services Directorate Monday donated relief food items to 200 survivors of Tropical Cyclone Freddy (TCF) in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Lundu.

Speaking after making the donation, Acting National Director of Social Services Bro, Pascal Mtuwana said as a church they are very concerned with what happened during TCF.

“The cyclone destroyed livelihoods accelerating food insecurity in the process, as such ECM felt compelled to support vulnerable people in Chikwawa and other affected districts.

“As a faith based body with support from our colleagues abroad we will continue with various donations in affected districts and shortly will come again to provide shelter assistance,” he said.

Disaster Risk Management Officer for Chikwawa, Humphrey Magalasi expressed happiness with the donation saying it would go a long way in providing everyday basic needs.

He appealed to other well-wishers to support survivors with shelter and agricultural input as most of the camps have been decommissioned.

“Much as camps have been decommissioned in Chikwawa, people still need support such as shelters,” Magalasi added.

One of the beneficiaries from Mkanyoza village, Grace Paulo expressed her gratitude for the donation.

“We commend ECM and Chikwawa Diocese for the support, this will help our families to recover as we lost all basic needs due to the cyclone,” she said.

The donated relief items include sugar, cooking oil, salt, maize flour, soya pieces and beans among others.

By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, July 29, Mana: Stakeholders in the fisheries sector have been advised to be proactive in safeguarding fisheries resources in Lake Malawi in preventing practices which could lead to depletion of various fish species.

The call was made Thursday in Nkhata Bay by Pact Malawi Deputy Chief of Party for Restoring Fisheries for Sustainable Livelihoods (REFLESH), Amakhosi Jere when he closed training for fisheries champions on communities’ roles in enhancing responsible fishing.

He said that illegal fishing practices can lead to depletion of diverse fish species and reduction of fish harvest.

“As stakeholders in the fisheries sector, you need to push for formulation of by-laws in your respective areas while also advocating for legally acceptable fishing gears and practices.

In regard to the outdated Fisheries Act of 1994 which is being used, there is a dare need for fishing communities to have by-laws that restrict the use of illegal fishing gears and illegal fishing practices such as catching fish during breeding period,”  Jere said.

District Fisheries Enforcement Officer for Nkhata Bay, Evance Mataka said that his office has no boats and other related equipment for conducting patrols on the lake and they outsource the service at intervals.

He said the fisheries sector has high potential in contributing to national development and improved sustainable livelihoods.

"For instance, we have almost 6,000 fishers in the district with only 782 certified meaning that we lose close to K3 billion in addition to reduced fish landing being recorded in recent years,” Mataka said.

One of the trainees, Cyria Adamana, said it was time for communities to protect fisheries resources which they depend on for their livehoods and that it was the responsibility for everyone to advocate and enforce legal fishing practices.

Adamana is a councillor for Nkhata Bay Boma Ward added that there was need to enhance mindset change in communities on fisheries related issues saying such an approach was key to achieving the desired practices.

The trainees among others included information officers, women's group representatives and chairpersons for fisheries associations, traditional and religious leaders.