MANAonline
Makazi Foundation supports TFC survivors in Blantyre
By Mtisunge Gwedeza
Blantyre, August 17, Mana: Makazi Foundation, a charity organization has extended a helping hand to the communities at Chigwaja in Chilomoni Township, Blantyre with the aim of reducing the effects of Tropical Cyclone Freddy (TCF) which disrupted livelihoods in some districts of the southern region last year.
In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Friday, Makazi Foundation Head of Programmes, Tatenda Makondetsa said the initiative aims at providing support to the community which was greatly affected by TCF.
“We want to work with the community in areas of psychosocial support and holistic support whilst empowering them for the future.
“Last year we donated relief items to 192 families after the cyclone and now we plan to do another donation in September, tailored for 30 families and 700 students,” he said.
According to Makondetsa, his organization collects non-perishable foods, clothes, personal hygiene products, blankets and toys, among others from well-wishers to donate to the community.
Makondetsa also said collaborating with local leaders and chiefs has been helpful in coordinating the availability of different community members.
Chigwaja Village Development Committee Chairperson, Thomas Lembetu said Makazi Foundation has given the community hope to bounce back stronger after the cyclone.
“The Foundation is not only helping with relief items but also empowering us with entrepreneurial activities so that we don’t rely on donors alone but learn to be independent in such times; for example, now we have more than 20 carpenters just because of them.
“Being a rural area where education is a problem, the Makazi Foundation is also encouraging the youth to go to school, teach them preventive measures against HIV and AIDs and educating young adolescent girls on the dangers of early pregnancies,” Lembetu said.
The Makazi Foundation was founded in 2021 by Mwayi Diana Kalitera with the aim of providing psychosocial support, a holistic education and vocational skills training to shelter vulnerable youths and children from poverty.
Minister commends progress of Salima development projects
By: Golden Kang'oma
Salima, August 16, Mana: Minister of Local Government and National Unity, Richard Chimwendo Banda, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of key development projects in Salima, including the construction of Kapiri ADMARC and Linthipe Secondary School.
The projects, funded by the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD) and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) are part of a broader effort to improve infrastructure and empower local communities.
Speaking after touring some of the projects on Friday, Banda hailed the quality of work being carried out, stating that the contractors are doing an exemplary job.
He said: "The quality of work on the ground is solid. The contractors are not only meeting expectations but are also thinking about the needs of future generations. This is the kind of development President Lazarus Chakwera envisions for Malawi."
Chimwendo highlighted that these projects are creating employment opportunities for local residents, particularly the youth.
"When we talk about job creation, we do not only mean white-collar jobs. The construction projects you see here are providing employment for many young people, including young women. This is happening all over the country with other developments such as construction of roads, houses, and other infrastructures. These are tangible results of government's commitment to job creation," Banda said.
Banda also stressed that the projects should be completed on time as delays could jeopardize funding and ultimately hinder the development goals. He cited the Salima Community Ground, a project funded by the GESD, as an example where timely completion is critical.
"The GESD project requires that projects are completed within a specified period. Failure to do so could result in the cessation of funding. We have negotiated with the bank, and they have given us positive feedback. The project will continue and will be completed on time," he assured.
Salima District Council, Director of Public Works, Harris Kumwenda said the council will make sure that the projects are completed on time and are of good standards.
"The projects that we toured today are some of the projects which are underway. So far all the projects are progressing very well and I am very optimistic that most of the projects will be completed by November if there will be no setbacks," he said.
Member of Parliament for Salima South East constituency, Mike Ng'ombe Mawa said he is very excited with the construction of the secondary school as the area has had none since time in memorial and said that this will go a long way helping students attain good education within the area.
"This is one of the key projects that has embarked in this area and I am sure that the project will be completed within the fixed period so that it helps the community," he said.
The secondary school is being constructed to the tune of 494 Million Malawi Kwacha and the ADMARC at 44 Million Malawi Kwacha.
MANEB releases 2024 PSLCE and JCE results
By Hastings Yobe
Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: The Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) has announced the 2024 Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) results, with an impressive pass rate of 86.16%.
Out of 252,668 candidates who sat for the exams, 217,708 have passed, with females accounting for 106,907 (82.92%) and males accounting for 110,801 (89.54%).
MANEB Executive Director, Professor Dorothy Nampota, revealed the results, highlighting the board's efforts to ensure efficient examination administration.
Earlier, MANEB Board Vice Chairperson, Lonely Magareta, commended relevant stakeholders, including teachers, security agencies, and private school associations, for their support in successfully administering the 2024 JCE and PSLCE exams.
Magareta also acknowledged MANEB's adoption of technology, including E-registration and E-payment, to enhance examination administration.
Notably, Magareta assured that the results for both exams are credible, stating, "The results for the two exams are clean."
MEC expresses confidence in EMDs
By Moses Nyirenda
Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has expressed confidence in its newly introduced Electoral Management Devices (EMDs) which the commission is expected to use in conducting electoral processes including voter registration for the upcoming 2025 general election.
Speaking on Friday during an engagement meeting which MEC organized to interact with development partners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media on electoral processes, MEC Chairperson, Annabel Mtalimanja said the newly introduced EMDs are reliable and secure.
“The assurance is that the machines are secure and all the data will be secure because one of the issues that raise concern is the issue surrounding security and I can assure Malawians that the machines are secure and the system is secure,” Mtalimanja said.
She added that the machines would be used anywhere in the country including in the remotest areas regardless of power challenges saying the machines come with the power banks that run the devices in the areas where there is no electricity.
She also said MEC has introduced the machine to ensure that every eligible voter with national ID card or proof of National Registration Bureau is able to register and take part in voting during the upcoming general election.
She further said MEC will soon embark on voter registration exercise using the EMDs and appealed to the CSOs and the media to help in raising awareness to the public about the voter registration processes in order for eligible voters to be able to register and vote.
“Our encouragement to the CSOs and the media is to help us sensitize the public to ensure that every eligible voter has taken the time to register with NRB because every potential voter without a National ID will not be able to register,” she said.
In a separate interview after MEC's engagement with development partners, CSOs and the media, Women Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC) Executive Director, Maggie Kathewera hailed MEC for introducing the EMDs.
“We are living in a technologically advanced world and the adoption of EMDs by MEC is something that has to be commended,” Kathewera said.
MEC engagement meeting with the development partners, CSOs and the media among others attracted representatives from various CSOs including; WOLREC, Oxfam Malawi, Cise Malawi as well as representatives of media bodies such as Media Council of Malawi and Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi.
NEEF loans excite Mlolo farmers in Nsanje
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, August 16, Mana: Farmers in the area of Senior Chief Mlolo in Nsanje have expressed satisfaction after government provided them with loans through the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) to improve on agricultural production.
Area Agriculture Stakeholders Panel Chairperson, James Khisimisi told Malawi News Agency on Thursday that for a long time farmers have been struggling to harvest enough due to a lack of agricultural inputs such as seed and farm equipment necessary for irrigation.
“We have bought water pumps for irrigation farming. We have also bought original seeds from well-known agro-dealers,” he added.
Khisimisi said most farmers used to buy poor-quality seeds at on market adding that the farmers were tempted by low seed prices.
He explained that farmers were delighted with the loan and looked forward to buy original seed that assures high yield.
Nsanje North legislator, Enock Chizuzu said NEEF loan will empower farmers in the area to produce more for consumption and for sale.
“We are a hard-working community but we fail to produce more due to lack of resources,” he added, and was hopeful that majority of farmers in the irrigation schemes within Nsanje North constituency received the loan.
Chizuzu further hailed President Lazurus Chakwera's administration for putting much effort into agricultural production, saying this was a crucial area within Malawi 2063 development agenda.
He therefore advised the farming community to use the loan for the intended purpose and encouraged them to pay back the loan.
NEEF Field Officer, Stevie Chavi said NEEF disbursed loans amounting to MK169 million to farmers in the area of Traditional Authority Mlolo only.
Man axes wife to death, hands himself over to Lilongwe Police
By Sellah Chunda
Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: A 42-year-old man, Isaac Patisi, is in police custody at Area 3 in Lilongwe after allegedly killing his wife, Azefa Kasamanda, 36, by hacking her in the chest with an axe at their home in Malingunde on Wednesday, August 14, 2024.
According to Lilongwe General Inspector, Hastings Chigalu, the incident occurred around 2:00 A.M. The couple, who had been arguing throughout the day over suspicions of the wife’s extramarital affair, continued their quarrel in bed.
The argument escalated until Patisi allegedly took an axe and struck his wife multiple times in the chest, leaving her in a pool of blood before fleeing the scene.
Patisi later called his sister-in-law, urging her to visit the couple's house to witness what he had done. Afterward, he walked from Malingunde and turned himself in at Area 3 Police Station around 6:30 A.M, where he confessed to the crime.
A postmortem conducted at Kamuzu Central Hospital confirmed that Kasamanda died from internal bleeding caused by the wounds inflicted during the attack.
Patisi, who hails from Chilipatali village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Njewa, Lilongwe, will be charged with murder once all necessary procedures are completed. The deceased was from Chakulirapati village, T/A Masumbankhunda in Lilongwe district.
Government unveils National Social Protection Call Centre
By Sellah Chunda
Lilongwe, August 16, Mana: In a bid to improve service delivery, the Malawian government, through the Ministry of Gender, Community Development, and Social Welfare, has launched the National Social Protection Call Centre (NSPCC) today.
During the launch at NGORA offices in Lilongwe, Minister Jean Sendeza emphasized that the new call centre aims to bolster support systems within social protection programs.
“We have established this call centre to strengthen our support systems and address the numerous grievances we have received. The NSPCC will ensure transparency in cash transfers through a free toll line,” Sendeza stated.
Michele Crimella, Team Leader for Social Sector and Infrastructure at the European Union, remarked, “Social protection is expanding, and this call centre will make it easier for beneficiaries to address their concerns through a single number. This initiative is a significant step in improving access to support.”
Crimella also highlighted the EU's commitment to Malawi's social protection programs, noting their success in aiding vulnerable populations and promoting self-reliance among the ultra-poor.
Gerge Chikondi Juwawo, Social Policy Specialist at UNICEF, praised the call centre as a solution to longstanding issues such as delays in social cash transfers.
“Modern technologies and the new call centre will help address these challenges by providing a platform for beneficiaries to voice their complaints and receive timely assistance,” Juwawo said.
The government of Malawi, supported by partners such as the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNICEF, and the European Union, continues to implement various social protection programs aimed at reducing poverty among the country’s most vulnerable populations.
Council asks for support to vaccinate pets in hard to reach areas
By George Mponda
Karonga, August 16, Mana: Principal Animal Health and Livestock Development Officer for Karonga District Council, Michael Mapundi has called on stakeholders to assist with logistical support inorder to adminster rabies vaccine to pets in hard to reach areas.
Mapundi made the call on Friday while speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA) amidst a free rabies vaccination campaign which was launched on July 24 in the district.
"The district launched a free rabies campaign from July to August after we got support from the Department of Animal Health and Livestock Development of rabies vaccine and a local non governmental organisation based in Mzuzu called Centre for Community Empowerment Initiative (CCEI) with logistics and vaccine," Mapundi said.
"The campaign was launched in order to control the dangerous disease which can be transmitted from animals to people. During this period, we expect to vaccinate more than 21,000 pets. However, some of them are located in far off areas and we do not have the resources to reach there," he explained.
Mapundi cited places like Fuliwa, Nthawilo, Chisi, Chikutu, Gidi, Mphinga, Kayelekera, Ngana, Katili, Mphuwu, Njalayamoto, Chazale and those around Nyika National Park as being where logistical and allowances for officers will be needed.
On her part, Fitinah Mhango a Karonga resident from Malema one village in the area of Paramount Chief Kyungu advised authorities to consider vaccinating stray dogs.
"There are alot of stray dogs running around and these are not vaccinated during the campaigns. There should be deliberate efforts made to vaccinate them because they are the ones who pose the most risk to people since they are rarely vaccinated," Mhango said
Rabies is a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals usually through a bite. Animals most likely to spread rabies include dogs, bats and cats.
Meanwhile, Karonga district is currently vaccinating pets in all the Extension Planning Areas (EPAs) till August month end and all pet owners are being encouraged to go with their pets in all designated vaccination places.
Kafalachi lobbies for agricultural infrastructure inclusion in development plans
By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, August 16, Mana: Nsanje District Council Chairperson, Mike Kafalachi has appealed to community development structures to prioritize agriculture infrastructure in a bid to realize an increase in agricultural productivity and commercialization.
Kafalachi was speaking at the District Agriculture field day organized on Thursday at Gooke Irrigation Scheme in the area of Traditional Authority Mlolo.
The council chairperson observed that most developmental structures like the Area Development Committees dwell much on health and education structures, ignoring other equally important sector for the country’s economy.
“For our country to achieve Malawi 2063 Agenda pillar number 1, which is improved agricultural productivity and commercialization, there is need for governance structures to include agriculture infrastructures in our planning,” Kafalachi said.
He, therefore, disclosed that Nsanje District Council in its socio-economic has prioritized agricultural productivity as the district is either struck by dry spells or floods each year.
“We are promoting irrigation farming in all areas around Nsanje. I want to encourage the communities that were provided with irrigation schemes to put to good use the developmental structures,” he added.
Kafalachi, therefore, expressed disappointment with theft and vandalism of irrigation materials at the scheme in the district, saying it is undermining the vision of the district to achieve food security.
Director of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources for Nsanje District Council, James Lichapa said the field day was organized to encourage farmers to follow modern ways of farming.
“We hope farmers have learnt a lot from this field day and we expect that they will implement it in their farming practice. We want farmers to take farming as a business so that we can achieve Malawi 2063 Agenda,” he added.
One of the farmers from Gooke village, Godwell Fella said the field day has been very informative as he has learnt modern ways of farming.
“I want to take farming as a business and I will follow whatever farming practices I have learnt today,” he added.
The field day was commemorated under the theme: “Enhanced integrated farming: A key to sustainable climate change resilience, food, nutrition and income security.”
WASH improves child health in Nsanje
By Lisa Lamya
Blantyre, August 16, Mana: Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) practices have significantly improved in Mchacha Village in the area of Traditional Authority Malemia in Nsanje district.
This has been made possible under a project, which the Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) and The Hunger Project are implementing with support from United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to the government of Malawi funded by KFW.
Group Village Head Mchacha told Malawi News Agency (Mana) that for the past five years the area has not recorded any Cholera case, attributing the development to the introduction of the project.
“I remember back in the years we had a Cholera case, luckily the patient recovered, as a community leader, I encourage my subjects to have a toilet, ensure proper hygiene in their homes so that we curb such diseases,” Mchacha said.
One of the beneficiaries for the project, Mary Kandiado said diarrhoeal diseases have no place in her home because she has all the necessary WASH facilities.
“I have three children and one is under five, I always ensure that I keep my surroundings clean and use clean water when preparing food and wash my hands thoroughly,” Kandiado said.
A health promoter in Mchacha village, Jennifer Kaliati said she has seen noticeable improvements in the area in terms of sanitation and hygiene.
Kaliati said that through care groups which were set up in the village, issues of WASH have spread across the village.
“Our message is clear, we let the communities decide whether they want to be hygienic and disease free or if they want to break sanitation rules and stay in hospital,” Kaliati added.
Kaliati said that men in the area are taking a leading role in spreading WASH messages.
“Issues of hygiene are mostly associated with women but we have seen that male champions have been vibrant in disseminating messages on WASH as well as nutrition,” she said.
Data from UNICEF shows that hundreds of children under the age of five die every day from diarrhoeal diseases that could have been prevented by basic WASH practices at home, health centre and school level.
