MANAonline
Five arrested for vandalizing ESCOM property in Balaka
By Andrew Phiri
Balaka, August 24, Mana: Police in Balaka have arrested five people suspected of vandalizing and stealing Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) copper wires worth K7.5 million, a few days after police in Mangochi and Mwanza also arrested other men for similar offences.
Balaka Police Station, Public Relations Officer, Gladson M'bumpha identified, Rodgers Mkwanda, 28, Stanford Chabwera, 30, Christopher Kababe, 24, Ephron Mtambalika, 30 and Binton Banda, 41 as the suspects.
M`bumpha said the vandalism happened at night between August 18 and 19, 2024 at Govati Village and Phombeya Sub Station within Phalula area in Balaka.
“The suspects have been on the run until Thursday, August, 22, 2024 when the police arrested them,” he said.
He said Mkwanda and Chabwera will answer theft by servant charges, Kababe and Mtambalika on vandalism charges while Banda will answer charges of stealing stolen property in court soon.
In a related development, police in Mangochi on Thursday arrested Joseph Simeon, 40 for allegedly stealing ESCOM and Southern Region Water Board equipment in the district.
During night patrols, police intercepted a push bicycle tax operator carrying two bags containing 99 ESCOM fuses and cable wires and after investigations discovered that the stolen items belonged to Simeon.
Simeon was arrested after it was revealed that the stolen items belonged to him and that he has been involved in a series of vandalism and theft in many parts of Mangochi.
Recently, vandals targeted Mwanyama, Mosiya, Mgundaphiri, Kalonga and Mpondasi to vandalize ESCOM equipment such as transformers.
In another development, Zalewa Magistrate Court on Friday convicted and sentenced Patrick Malikebu, 34 and Lonjezo Magaleta, 27, to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour for vandalizing ESCOM property that included copper cables in Mwanza and Balaka.
Malikebu and Magaleta who have been involved in series of vandalism and theft of ESCOM equipment were convicted by the Zalewa Court.
Reacting to the series of vandalism, ESCOM Chief Public Relations Officer, Kitty Chingota has called on the public to collaborate with the corporation in dealing with vandalism and theft of ESCOM equipment.
President Chakwera arrives from Italy, Germany
By Leonard Masauli
Lilongwe, August 24, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Saturday afternoon arrived from Italy and Germany where he went for official duties.
Speaking on arrival at Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, Chakwera said his visit pose a great deal for the country's Development.
Chakwera said during his visit to Italy, he met Pope Francis where he discussed a number of issues as well as visiting Saint Egidio which he said is instrumental in helping the youths and development in the country.
"The visit is a great advantage to Malawi. I had a chance to meet the President of Germany and signed a number of Memorandums of Understanding among other agreements for us to benefit, in terms of trade, democracy, natural disasters and disease out breaks.
"We also had a meeting with the Pope, people who are praying for the country and wishing us well, as well as the community of Saint Egidio who are doing a lot to help the youths. We also signed agreements to revamp Marine development and transportation in the country," said Chakwera.
Before going to Italy and Germany, the President traveled to Mozambique for the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) meeting in Zambabwe.
Upon arrival the President was welcomed by Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi, Minister of Homeland Security Ken zikhale Ng'oma, Minister of Information and Digitization Moses kunkuyu, Minister of Health Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Minister of Gender Community Development and Social Welfare, Jean Sendeza, Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo, Secretary to President and Cabinet Colleen Zamba, other Senior government officials and Chiefs.
Chakwera winds up Italy, German visits
By Abel Ikiloni
Berlin, August 23, Mana: Malawi`s President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Saturday concluded his official visit to Germany where he held discussions with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and discussed a number of issues aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between Malawi and Germany which have been in existence for 60 years.
While in Germany, Chakwera witnessed the signing of an agreement on issues of water transport and solar power investment.
“In Frankfurt I met private investors and we signed a number of agreements with regards to the marine transportation on lake Malawi and also met officials for the Chambers of Commence in Frankfurt.
He said many of the investors he met are willing to get involved in Agriculture and tourism as well as in the mining investments in Malawi.
Chakwera said he held cordial discussion with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier focusing on various areas of cooperation.
He said he took the opportunity to invite president Steinmeier who was elected on 12 February 2017 and currently serving his second five hear term, to came to Malawi.
Before going to Germany on 21 August, 2024, Chakwera visited the Vatican, where he met Pope Francis, head of the Roman Catholic Church.
While in the Vatican, Italy, the Malawi President met the Community of Sant` Egidio, whose activities have helped transform many lives in Malawi.
WVM launches ENOUGH Campaign to combat child hunger and malnutrition
By Vincent Khonje
Mchinji, August 24, Mana: World Vision Malawi (WVM) has launched the ENOUGH Campaign to eliminate child hunger and malnutrition in the country.
The initiative is a three-year global effort aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Number Two, which aims to achieve a world free from hunger by 2030.
Minister of Gender, Social Welfare, and Community Development, Jean Sendeza, presided over the official launch, at Kalulu Primary School ground in Mchinji on Friday.
Sendeza said the campaign's importance is to ensure that children across the country have access to proper and nutritious food.
"Although some districts yield more food crops, children still lack proper food, the ENOUGH campaign is here to make sure that our children are eating properly. If children have enough food and are eating properly, they will be able to attend school and thrive," said Sendeza.
The Minister also called on extension workers from the agriculture and community development sectors to actively engage with communities.
"I urge extension workers to go around the communities and teach how to prepare proper meals," she said.
WVM Country Director, Francis Dube, said the aim of the campaign is to end child hunger and malnutrition in the country.
He said the project will ensure that Malawi has access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food, significantly reducing hunger and malnutrition.
“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that no child should suffer due to hunger. This campaign is built on three pillars which are enough food, enough resources and enough will,” said Dube.
Also speaking at the launch was Traditional Authority (TA) Kapondo who said the project will help people to produce more relevant food.
“When we talk of malnutrition we talk of food which mostly is scarce. We are hopeful that with the project the food will be made available and we will also be able to diversify our farming,” said TA Kapondo.
The ENOUGH Campaign comes at a critical time for Malawi as national statistics mirror the rise in hunger and food insecurity.
Among others, the campaign will concentrate more on school feeding and distribution of farm inputs to households to reduce hunger.
Approximately 35.5 per cent of children under five years old in Malawi are stunted, and nearly 40 per cent of the population is likely to experience acute food insecurity.
The $44 million ENOUGH project is a direct outcome of one of President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera's foreign trips, where he met with officials from World Vision International (WVI).
Karonga farmers urged to adopt climate smart agriculture
By George Mponda
Karonga, August 22, Mana: Farmers in Karonga have been advised to be innovative and adapt to the changing environment by using modern technologies for sustainable agriculture production and high yields.
Vice Chairperson for Karonga District Council King Mvula said this Wednesday while speaking as a guest of honor at the 6th Karonga Agriculture Fair which was organised by the District Agriculture Extension Coordination Committee (DAECC).
Mvula said; “Adoption of climate smart agriculture will improve the productivity and profitability of farmers by introducing new adapted varieties and agronomic practices for rice, maize, and even tomatoes which will also enhance their value chains and strengthen Karonga's food security."
"It also promises to increase availability of nutritious food for communities and put more money in farmers’ pockets which is good for our district which is hit by disasters annually," he added.
Mvula went on to encourage farmers to be in cooperatives, associations and clubs so that they add value to their produce and sell in bulk for better prices which will create good relationship with buyers from other districts or even attracting international buyers.
In his remarks, Karonga DAECC's Acting Chairperson Jabesi Nyirenda said it is essential for farmers to change their ways of doing things especially with the district being prone to disasters.
"The effects and impacts of climate change are felt in the agriculture sector as they have resulted in the decline of agricultural productivity. Farmers need to adopt modern methods to ensure that they sustainably increase productivity, enhance resilience and ensure the achievement of food security and development goals," Nyirenda said.
The theme for the 6th Agriculture Trade Fair in Karonga was ‘Climate Smart Agriculture: Key to increased productivity, Agro-processing and Market Linkages for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods.’
District road safety committee launched in Nkhata Bay
By Chisomo Kambandanga
Nkhata Bay, August 22, Mana: The Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services launched district road safety committee in Nkhata Bay on Thursday to facilitate enforcement of road traffic issues at district level.
In an interview after the launching the committee at Nkhata Bay District council lodge, Principal Road Transport Officer at the Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services Charles Maluwa said the committee will help to beef up human capital challenges in the directorate.
“With the human capacity that we have, it is not possible for us to reach every corner of the country.
“As such in our national road safety strategy that we are implementing from 2022 up to 2030 we made recommendations that we have district road safety committees that will be managing issues related to their communities hence the formation of the first committee here in Nkhata Bay”, Maluwa said.
According to Maluwa, each district will look at its challenges and solve them the way they are and give recommendations to the directorate to find interventions from partners so that vulnerable road users are protected.
“The directorate will continue to intensify measures to make sure that people are protected on the road like having Kabaza operators registered in Malawi Transport Information System so that they get numbers, trained and be given licenses at affordable prices”, Maluwa added.
He therefore assured the committee of the full support so that they perform to their expectations.
In his remarks Nkhata Bay District Commissioner( DC), Rodgers Newa who happens to be the Chairperson of the Nkhata Bay road safety committee commended the Directorate of Road Traffic and Safety Services for decentralizing their services to the district as this will help to reduce the level of accidents caused by motorists.
“It is important that services like these are decentralized because it will empower and give chance to people to find solutions to issues that affect them.
“As a new committee, we will go through the terms of reference and draw a road map as how we will approach this program as Nkhata Bay,’ Newa said.
According to Newa the committee will have civic education related activities through various possible channels sensitizing communities about the dangers of drying food products along the road among others so that the district continues register decrease in road accidents as per 2024 first quarterly report.
The DC therefore said he will strive to make Nkhata Bay Road safety committee a point of reference to other districts since it the first of its kind to be formulated in the country.
Vice Chairperson of Nkhata Bay taxi operators Edward Mhone expressed optimism that the committee will help to reduce some of the challenges they face in their course of duty and promised full support to the committee.
The comprises membership from different sectors like Education, Health, Civil society Organization, Community Police among others, Traditional leaders among others.
NAS to improve service delivery
By Sylvester Kumwenda
Dowa, August 22, Mana: Director General for the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) Daud Suleman has said the new National Address System (NAS) being implemented in the country will help in improving social service delivery to citizens.
He made the remarks during a meeting MACRA engaged with stakeholders on Wednesday, on plans to role out NAS in Dowa district.
Suleman said currently the country has been using two address systems, postal code and traditional way of directions which poses various challenges and compromises provision of various services. The new NAS he said, will alleviate these challenges and provide new opportunities.
"We will have effective responses to emergencies by fire, police or ambulance departments, improved birth, death, marriage registration and verifiable proof of residence.
Also, improved provision of health services, and reshaped urban areas into user friendly towns and cities as it would be easy to track locations," said Sulemani.
He as such said Malawians must embrace the new development which he said also aligns Malawi to global developments in this modern and digitalized era.
Director of Postal and Ecommerce at MACRA, Kondwani kachika in an interview said the NAS is also an opportunity to improve on ecommerce as delivery of goods will become efficient, and it will also improve trade.
"For example Dowa is an agricultural district, and issues to do with buying, selling and transportation of agricultural commodities can only be simplified if all locations are properly identified. So this is a very important development," he said.
He said the project is being implemented in phases and is now completing remaining districts in the central region, before rolling out the final phase in southern Malawi.
Prerequisites for the New Address System include identifying and naming streets and roads, numbering houses according to the new system, marking and naming big buildings and mapping.
He said so far stakehokders across the country understand the benefit the NAS brings, but he urged against damaging of infrastructure.
"We still find that there are few elements within our society who vandalize the infrastructure that we put.
So we continue to plead with the leaders, even the local people on the ground to take care of the infrastructure that government, through MACRA is putting in place," he said.
Through the Communications Act of 2016, Parliament mandated MACRA to implement a comprehensive addressing system to allocate, manage and regulate addresses and postcodes.
Dowa District Council Chairperson Gift Songeya during the meeting said Dowa stakehokders have welcomed the initiative.
"It is a good development worth celebrating because it will help incorporate the district into the mapping system.
On the other hand, it will also help the council in service delivery as we will be able to identify locations, infrastructures, and even households and people with ease," he said.
So far, NAS has been rolled out in 20 districts.
MWASIP disburses about K5.8 billion to farmers' groups and agri-enterprises
By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
Blantyre, August 23, Mana: World Bank-supported Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) has disbursed a total of K3.6 billion and K2.2 billion to 137 farmer groups and 43 agri-enterprises, respectively in the seven districts of Blantyre, Balaka, Mangochi, Zomba, Ntcheu, Neno, and Machinga to support the agri entrepreneurial.
MWASIP technical team member, Andrew Chamaza disclosed this on Friday during a quarterly interaction session with journalists in Blantyre.
Chamaza said the matching grants were meant to increase crop productivity among farmers at the farm level and support agri-enterprises on farm produce.
“The farmer groups were selected based on their active participation in the implementation of sustainable land management practices in their respective catchment areas. We recommended that the groups should have a majority of women and youth,” he added
In the agri-enterprises category, MWASIP looked at aggregators, processors and those in value chain additions who would boost their capital base to support their huge investments, according to Chamaza.
He said despite the project facing some challenges regarding disbursement of funds to the farmer groups and agri-enterprises, a great impact has so far been registered in the areas where the project is being implemented.
“For instance, we noted that there were no clear market linkages between the farmer groups and agri-enterprise and in a few instances, some failed to use the funds for the intended purpose. Regardless of this, there are more cases of success, especially from those that got the grants in the first cohort they are now reaping the fruits of the matching grants,” he said.
One of the farmer groups, Tipindule in the Kapichira catchment where the project is being implemented in Blantyre, hailed MWASIP for supporting them with a matching grant amounting to K16 million to venture into irrigation farming solely for commercial gains.
The secretary of the group, Christopher Sabwe, said they selected the enterprise because of its lucrative returns.
“We now sell our maize and groundnuts to various agri-enterprises at a competitive price, in turn realizing huge returns,” he said.
Chimwemwe Chikatentha, an agro-dealer trading as Mamshe Agro dealer, said the grant she received, amounting to K79 million enabled her to construct a warehouse.
“We use this warehouse to store farmers' produce such as groundnuts and maize, which we buy from the farmers in the Kapichira catchment area," he added.
The farmer groups accessed matching grants ranging from 5,000 USD to 10,000 USD, while for agri-enterprises, their matching grants threshold ranged from 25,000 USD to 50,000 USD.
Government commits to child education
By James Mwale
Ntchisi, August 23, Mana: Government has reaffirmed its commitment to support children’s education in its continued effort of ensuring that the country has a bright future.
Deputy Director of Administration in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Esther Ng’ong’ola made the reaffirmation Friday at Chikwatula Resource Center (CRC) in Ntchisi district where she presided over the closing ceremony of the district’s Child Parliament.
Ng’ong’ola was reacting to the child legislators’ call for protection against malpractices such as child labour, insufficient knowledge of Sexual Reproductive Health, climate change issues and a conducive learning environment in schools saying they hinder their ease of access to education.
One of the child legislators, Judith Juma, from the area of Senior Chief Kasakula said: “Trees that used to act as windbreakers in our area have been carelessly cut down by charcoal burners to the effect that strong winds blow down a teacher’s houses at a primary school I go to.
“This affected our learning because teachers had to spend time searching for a new place to stay, a time that could have been dedicated to teaching learners.”
Another legislator, Tidziwane Mastala, from Senior Chief Chikho, decried increased practices of child labour saying most parents send children in tobacco and tea farms, while others are sent to herd cattle of well-to-do farmers to earn a quick earning at a time they should be going to school.
In her speech, Ng’ong’ola said: “Issues that have been raised herein cannot be overemphasized. And you have not only spoken for yourselves as Ntchisi district, but for all children in the 28 districts across the country. Government through the Ministry of Gender already has policies that care for children’s welfare but the concerns raised here are a call for us to engage an extra gear.”
She then called on local councils to work in collaboration with legislators, traditional authorities and Civil Society Organizations to ensure that children’s rights to education is upheld.
Echoing Ng’ong’ola, Member of Parliament for Ntchisi South constituency, Ulemu Chilapondwa, said it was encouraging to see that the child legislators, who are the future of the district, and the country at large were keen to have their rights to education defended.
He has since committed to work with the district’s council, local authorities and fellow legislators to ensure that all children in the district have full access to education.
The five-day-long Parliamentary Session was held under the theme “Umphawi Usatilepheletse Mahunziro”.
Meanwhile, the child legislators have challenged the district council, Non-State Actors, parliamentarians and local authorities to put stiff penalties against all perpetrators of activities that pose a threat to their education.
Chione’s debut book inspires reflection and positive change
By Esther Ndhlozi
Mzuzu, August 23, Mana: After eight years of being an active contributor to literally sections of the country’s national newspapers, Fatsani Chione 28, has launched his first debut book.
The book which is titled ‘An Ace of Death’ draws more on Chione’s personal experiences and those of others with the aim of inspiring readers to reflect and strive for positive transformation.
Speaking Friday, Chione said that he has compiled his published and unpublished writings in one book, exploring pressing issues which include complexities of politics, unemployment, love and hope among young people.
“My goal was to use fiction as a platform to share my experiences and those of others which I have been publishing in newspapers for eight years into one copy to spark reflection and connection among the youth,” said Chione.
Chione has also stated that he hopes his writing will ignite meaningful conversations and public debates, ultimately leading to personal growth, self-reflection and informed decision making.
“My aim is to inspire young people to take control of their life choices and make positive changes.
I believe that literature is a powerful tool to raise awareness and meaningful conversations when it comes to reflecting one’s personal growth and decision making to promote social change” Chione added.
He added that he will not stop releasing literally works and they are other projects coming ahead with hope that he tackles real life experiences of people and promote literature and culture
Chione was optimistic that his writing will continue to inspire, educate and empower readers, fostering a deeper understanding of the world around them.
“I am planning on releasing more projects like these which will help promote a literature culture that empowers a deeper understanding of life,” concluded Chione.
The book has been well received by readers and critics alike, with many praising his raw talent and expressiveness.
One of the discerning readers, Sylvia Kamoto hailed the newly released book as a compelling and relatable work.
She described Chione’s style of writing as a talent that has triggered discussions debates and engagements among the youth.
“I find this book to be truly engaging as it explores issues that are intimately familiar to me and my peers in Malawi.
Chione’s writing has prompted discussions among us to reconsider our understanding of ourselves, our community, and the choices that shape our lives,” said Kamoto.
