By George Mponda

Karonga, June 14, Mana: Karonga District Council has approved a K720 billion District Development Plan (DDP) which gears towards achieving inclusive growth, environmental sustainability, social equity, and economic resilience from 2024 to 2030.

Speaking during a full council meeting on Friday, the Acting Director of Planning and Development for Karonga District Council, Khumbo Mkandawire, said the plan will provide guidance for implementation of development initiatives in the district.

“Karonga District Council has been operating without a District Development Plan Since 2017. Now that we have one in place, all projects to be implemented in the district will be aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, regional legal frameworks, and Malawi 2063.

The plan intends to address 12 key developmental areas, and these include poor access to potable water, poor childhood development, limited access to farm produce markets, environmental degradation and climate change, unsustainable energy sources," said Mkandawire.

According to Mkandawire, some of the flagship projects to be implemented are the construction of a transit facility at Songwe Border Post, enhancing Sesame production, promoting value addition to agricultural produce, and construction of Rukulu Complex Irrigation Scheme, among others.

 “Let me appeal to stakeholders and development partners to support the council in implementing the plan,” she said.

Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace Desk Officer for Karonga Catholic Diocese, Obert Mkandawire, said the council should embark on a resource mobilization drive by engaging potential partners for the plan to be of benefit to the district.

“We are glad that the district now has a DDP. This will serve as a blueprint to help stakeholders align their projects with the district’s development priorities.

“With such a large budget at K720 billion, the council must embark on an aggressive resource mobilization and marketing campaign to attract the necessary funding, given its limited locally generated revenue,” said Mkandawire.

By Salome Gangire

Neno, June 13, Mana: Vice President Dr. Michael Usi applauded Neno District Council for its reform initiatives that include establishment of a High Dependency Unit (HDU), saying reforms should directly respond to people's interests.

The Vice President met officials from Neno District Council at Sunbird Mount Soche in Blantyre on Friday at a public sector reforms review meeting where he stated significance of accessible and improved healthcare services within the district.

“When people are sick, they should not have to travel to Blantyre to seek medical attention. They should receive care they need right there in the district,” he said, adding that reforms are meant to help institutions fulfill their mandates.

The Vice President therefore called for discipline, profession ethics on top of adherence to core values to ensure effective service delivery in line with the public sector reform.

On wheat production as outlined in Neno’s report, Usi advised the local authority to establish partnerships that can support and strengthen the wheat production to maximize profits.

The Vice President also advised the council to put in place robust monitoring and evaluation system that should track the reforms, saying Neno needs to be given special attention considering that the district has long been neglected particularly in terms of road infrastructure and development.

“I know road construction is underway, but we must expedite the process to ensure people of Neno benefit from better infrastructure,” he said, acknowledging that much of existing infrastructures in the district were constructed under Rural Growth Centers Programme, but still inadequate for effective service delivery.

Dr. Luckie Sikwese, Secretary in the Vice President’s Office responsible for Public Sector Reforms, described Neno’s reform areas as unique, noting that the district has significant potential to transform lives and advance key reform objectives.

Neno District Commissioner, Rosemary Nawasha, stated that the council is implementing three key reform areas: agricultural diversification and structured markets, irrigation development, and the establishment of a High Dependency Unit (HDU) at Neno District Hospital.

“We undertook these reforms to address the underutilized potential in wheat production, low crop yields caused by reliance on rain-fed agriculture, and the high cost of referring patients to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre for HDU services, an issue that has led to preventable deaths,” Nawasha explained.

She noted that the HDU is now operational, allowing 18 patients who would have otherwise been referred to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital to receive care within the district.

The District Commissioner also disclosed that the council linked wheat farmers to Kasinthula Research Station to access certified seed.

By Prisca Promise Mashushu

Lilongwe, June 13, Mana: Malawi is making significant strides on the international stage as it participates in the 4^th China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), currently underway in Changsha, China. The Malawi Investment and Trade Centre (MITC) is leading the country’s delegation under the theme “China and Africa: Together Toward Modernization.”

The prestigious event, which runs through the week, has drawn over 300,000 participants, including delegates from 53 African countries, 27 Chinese provinces, and 11 international organizations. Over 4,700 companies, associations, and financial institutions are taking part, highlighting the expo’s role as a major platform for trade and investment.

This year’s CAETE features more than 30 high-level economic and trade activities covering sectors such as modern agricultural machinery, clean energy, smart mining, industrial supply chains, traditional medicine, and cultural industries.

In a statement, MITC expressed pride in Malawi’s growing investment appeal, especially as global demand rises for sustainably sourced agricultural and mineral products.

“Malawi’s presence at the expo has generated considerable attention. The MITC’s pavilion has become a major attraction, showcasing high-quality Malawian products including pigeon peas, groundnuts, and a variety of minerals and gemstones. These offerings have sparked interest among attendees from diverse backgrounds, with many drawn to the uniqueness and potential of Malawian exports.

“This platform is a valuable opportunity to showcase Malawi’s economic potential and build strategic partnerships beyond the African continent,” reads the statement.

The Centre underscored its commitment to fostering trade and investment links with China and other international markets, emphasizing that such events pave the way for long-term economic cooperation and shared prosperity.

As Malawi continues to promote its rich resources and investment opportunities, the MITC remains optimistic about building lasting partnerships that will drive the country’s development forward.

By Yankho Banda

Lilongwe, June 13, Mana:  Award-winning journalist Suzgo Chitete has emphasized the crucial and active role that journalists play in the news production cycle.

Speaking during a continuous training session for reporters from the Malawi News Agency, Chitete said that journalists are not merely observers but active participants in the stories they cover.

He introduced the "story circle" concept, which includes journalists, the audience, sources, and publications, noting that it just depends on who has the power in the story that is being written.

He stressed that while journalists’ decide what to write, who to interview, and how to gather information, their reporting must be based on evidence.

Chitete also highlighted that journalists often have personal connections to their stories and can offer ideas on dealing with problems that the sources are facing.

Regarding sources, Chitete cautioned against blind trust, reminding journalists that sources often share information with specific interests in mind.

"Journalists should not just believe sources easily; rather, do collaborative information gathering to be safe," he advised.

Chitete also emphasized the importance of understanding media house policies, both written and unwritten, as these help guiding how stories are approached.

He urged journalists to write stories and that resonate with the public, recognizing that they are part of the audience.

Chitete also warned journalists that audiences can sometimes manipulate journalists or exaggerate stories just to gain attention.

"Journalists should not write stories just to tick a box because what they write has the power to affect other people," Chitete stated, underscoring that stories are for the audience, who should not be overlooked, nor should reporting constantly focus on the same individuals.

He encouraged journalists to conduct thorough research and formulate well-crafted questions for conferences and press briefings.

"Even the smallest question would matter rather than leaving it to one person," he said, advocating for the development of the art of questioning while maintaining a healthy skepticism, as "every little piece of information holds value."

"Journalism is purposive; it has a basis and must be subjected to verification," Chitete explained.

He suggested seeking information from experts, community members, and those likely to know, ensuring that "the audience and the sources are not cheated because the research will help journalists take their time for the verification process."

Chitete advised using directive, non open ended questions, achieved by providing context, examples, and background information to guide the interviewee. However, he cautioned against closed questions that only elicit yes or no answers.

To encourage sources to speak, journalists should employ greetings, visits, and simple questions before moving to more challenging ones.

Throughout this process, he stressed the importance of remaining grounded in reality and ensuring that the tone reflects the mood of the questions, whether sorrowful or joyful.

“Journalists should also pretend and guard their opinion if they want to get information from people,” he added.

Despite tough interviews, journalists were advised to remain composed and express gratitude to sources, as future collaborations might be necessary.

Secret recording, he noted, is only advisable in critical investigative journalism situations where sources are unresponsive.

During an interview, Sugzo said that journalists should inform sources that the story will be published with a note that they declined to provide information, which can often motivate them to speak.

Regarding story ownership, he advised against writing stories that conflict with an employer's interests, suggesting that if a story is important but problematic for their publication, it could be given to another journalist.

Paul Madise, one of the attendees, commended the organizers of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) sessions for the "refresher in-house training," which he believes helps MANA reporters improve their daily news writing and safeguards the journalism profession.

Madise highlighted: "the need for a proper choice of interviewees and that the tone of the story can significantly impact the story's outcome."

Chitete concluded with an example: “Reporters from different media outlets, such as international media like the BBC and local media like MANA, may cover the same event, but what matters is how each journalist reports it differently. Therefore, the influence of journalists on storytelling is comparable to the effect of different angles on a single picture.”

By Santos Zefania

Lilongwe June 13, Mana: Police at Gateway Mall in Lilongwe have arrested four men for allegedly terrorizing and committing a series of motorcycle robberies in the city.

Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer, Hastings Chigalu said the law enforcers have since recovered from the suspects, three stolen motorcycles.

The suspects have been identified as Maliko Ngaika, 43, Chisomo Njeulira, 19, Hassan Kalisto, 41, and Patrick Banda, 24.

"In one of the robbery incidents, on 28 May this year, at around 19:00 hours, the first suspect (Ngaika), approached a certain motorcycle taxi operator who was refueling his bike at Kafoteka Filling Station, asking for a ride to Area 9.

"Upon reaching Area 9, Ngaika told the motorcyclist to stop close to a certain unfinished house," explained Chigalu.

“However, immediately after making such a stop, Ngaika strangled the motorcyclist on the neck before two other criminals emerged from where they were hiding and joined in the assaulting of the motorcyclist,” he added.

Chigalu said the criminals later disappeared with the motorcycle while leaving the victim bleeding at the scene.

Law enforcers first arrested Ngaika, who later revealed the identities of his three accomplices and led the police to the location where the stolen motorcycles had been sold, resulting in their recovery.

Marko Ngaika comes from Emba Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Masumbankhunda, Lilongwe, Hassan Kalisto is from Ntonda Village, T/A Kalembo, and Chisomo Njeulira hails from Muwoja Village, T/A Kachenga, both in Balaka, while Patrick Banda comes from Gabriel Village, T/A Mulumbe in Zomba District.

The suspects will be taken to court soon to answer robbery charges.