By Abel Ikilioni

Blantyre, August 15, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Public Assurance and Public Sector Reforms recently conducted a tour of Malawi Rural Electrification Programme, (MAREP 9) in two districts of the southern region and one in the central region.

In an interviews with Malawi News Agency (Mana), Chairperson for the Committee, Noel Lipipa said the committee embarked on the tour to Dedza at Kaname, Mulanje at Kasankha and Chanje in Monkey Bay, Mangochi district to appreciate progress on MAREP 9 programme.

“We are impressed with the work done in all the areas we have inspected” Lipipa said.  

He said although things were progressing well, there were still some challenges such as a disconnect between MAREP and ESCOM and that a solution to the problem was to hold a meeting involving ESCOM, MAREP and the parliamentary committee.

He said such a meeting would ensure that the objective of MAREP is achieved and that all the challenges that existed in MAREP 9 should be ironed out.

According to Lipipa, the committee also observed that communities do not know that even grass thatched houses can also be connected to the grid.

“They are not supposed to do wiring in their houses, all they have to do is to apply to ESCOM and then they will get the power.” He said.

Deputy Director for Rural Electrification in the Ministry of Energy, Francisco Chingoli said the project is running smoothly with an initial target of 460 centres to benefit 46 000 households.

He said at least the Ministry has already completed and commissioned 160 sites which translate to 16 000 households, hoping that the phase would finish by the end of August.

“We have reached our targets; we are now working hard to make sure that we should also improve in some of the areas that we had bottlenecks and we intend to revitalize the Ndawala 2 Project to connect a lot of households,” Chingoli said.

He however pointed out some of the bottlenecks that MAREP 9 faced, citing scarcity of forex as one of the main challenges, adding the Reserve Bank of Malawi always intervened in such situations.

He disclosed that the Ministry of Energy will soon embark on MAREP 10 with a target of about 700 sites which translates to 70 000 households benefitting from the project.

MAREP 9 had a budget of K62 billion while MAREP 10 is pegged at K105 billion.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) Stephen Romasi, from Kasankha Village in Traditional Authority Nankumba in Mangochi expressed gratitude to government for extending electricity to his area.

“Our women were walking long distance to a maize mill. But now we have power within our locality.”  

Concurring with Romasi, Ellena Daniel said she was overjoyed to have electricity in her home, noting that electricity would improve her livelihood.

By; Tiyanjane Nandie Mambucha

August 14, MANA: Malawi1s President, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has arrived in Zimbabwe for the 44th Ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government, which the Republic of Zimbabwe is hosting.

Chakwera arrived at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport on Thursday evening to attend the meeting which will be   held in Zimbabwe`s capital, Harare.

On arrival, the President was welcomed by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi and Malawi`s Deputy Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Major General Elius Mpaso.

President Chakwera and the First Lady also met senior government officials from Zimbabwe, and officials from the SADC Secretariat.

This year’s 44^th ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held under the theme “Promoting innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an industrialized SADC”.

In 2023 the Summit elected Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco, President of the Republic of Angola, Chairperson of SADC,

Lourenco is expected to handover the SADC chairmanship to Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.

By Fostina Mkandawire

Maputo, August 15, Mana:  President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera on Thursday afternoon left Maputo in the Republic of Mozambique after a two-day tour of duty, which led into the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will enhance access to electricity as well as reducing the landing cost of fuel in Malawi.

While in Mozambique, Chakwera held bilateral talks with Mozambican President, Filipe Nyusi and was a conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree centred on improving and fostering cross boarder trading activities between the two countries.

The President was seen off at Maputo International Airport by Malawi High Commissioner to Mozambique, Wezi Moyo; Mozambican Minister of Mineral and Energy Energy, Carlos Zacarias, Malawi's Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola and top government officials from Mozambique and Malawi.

President Chakwera described the signing of the MoU and also his visit to Mozambique as "pleasant, memorable and successful," stressing that it will help reduce pump prices while also helping increase access to electricity across the country.

"It is pleasing to note that bilateral relations between Malawi and Mozambique are now stronger than ever and our people will mutually benefit from the strengthened bilateral relations," Chakwera said.

While in Mozambique, President Chakwera on Wednesday toured the Mozambican industrial area called Moz Park to appreciate trading activities being implemented by the Mozambican Government.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) Chief Executive Officer, Clement Kanyama said the signed fuel agreement will help in lowering the landing cost of fuel in Malawi in the long-run.

"Nacala to Lilongwe is just 36 hours, and the same volume from Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) takes four to five days which means that with the agreement in place, we can now save more money as we will have more fuel flowing into the country by rail," he said.

President Chakwera, will proceed to Harare, the Republic of Zimbabwe, to attend the 44 Ordinary Summit of Southern African Development Committee of Heads of State and Government to be held on Saturday, 17 August, 2024.

By Gift Chiponde

Lilongwe, August 15, Mana: A young resident of Ntandire in Lilongwe, Bridget Chimaliro, aged 21, has been granted a full scholarship by Maranatha Private Academy after her commendation of the school on Facebook captured the attention of the proprietor, Dr. Ernest Kaonga.

This development transpired after a post by the Makosana page commending the uniforms of the students at Maranatha Girls Academy, to which Bridget concurred and expressed her desire to acquire a similar uniform so she could proudly showcase her affiliation with the institution.

In her remark, she pondered, "Is it considered inappropriate to don school attire?"

Upon encountering her comment, Dr. Kaonga, the director of Maranatha Academy, was compelled to extend a comprehensive scholarship to the second-year student, encompassing tuition fees, uniforms, books, and all other educational expenses until the culmination of her secondary education.

"I was elated by her expressions of gratitude towards our institution and her aspiration to don our colours. Sincerely, I endeavored to locate her myself and ensure she realized her ambition of wearing a Maranatha uniform.

"I firmly believe she is deserving of this opportunity and I trust that she will maximize its benefits. The time is now hers," expressed Dr. Kaonga.

Nevertheless, Dr. Kaonga said discussions are underway with the guardians of the girl to formalize the scholarship agreement for their ward.

Within his establishments, Dr. Kaonga has been facilitating secondary education opportunities for both male and female students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those in need, in alignment with the government's initiatives to advance the educational sector.

In June 2022, the administration at Maranatha Private Academy pledged to furnish full scholarships to 40 female students from the Shaping Our Future Foundation (SOFF) and other educational institutions after a courtesy visit by Malawi's first lady, Monica Chakwera, who serves as the chairperson of SOFF's board.

By Sylvester Kumwenda

Dowa, August 15, Mana: Police in Dowa have arrested five people suspected to have murdered Ephraim Fradson aged 18 on August 7, 2024, at Mgwandali village, on suspicion that the deceased was dating a girl which one of the suspects was also in love with.

Dowa Police Station Public Relations Officer, Alice Sitima has identified the suspects as Malekano Julius aged 22, Stonard James aged 21, Mavuto John, 30, Misheck Julius aged, 24, and 18-year-old Yudas James.

Sitima said the father of the deceased reported that the victim had on the day attended a chieftaincy ceremony in Chiwale village.

'Fradson had attended a chieftaincy ceremony earlier in the day but was later found lying in a pool of blood by Isiah Matison, who had noticed a group of children gathered in a certain area.

"Witnesses reported that four individuals had assaulted Fradson, leaving him unconscious. Eventually, Fradson's relatives rushed him to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival," he said.

Sitima said postmortem results revealed that the cause of death was a head injury and basal skull fracture.

"Police investigations led to the arrest of the suspects who will appear before court soon to answer a murder charge levelled against them," she said.

All the suspects hail from Goma village, Traditional Authority Msakambewa in Dowa district.

By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, August 15, Mana: African Parks says it fears there will be increased illegal gold mining activities in Nkhotakota Game Reserve during the coming dry months of the year as water levels in Bua River recede.

Park Manager for Nkhotakota Game Reserve, Davie Nangoma, told a wildlife stakeholders meeting in Kasungu on Wednesday that illegal mining activities are rampant as people invade the protected area panning gold deposits in Bua river.

“Gold mining activities are very destructive to the ecosystem and our intelligence shows that the activities will increase as we are approaching drier months of the year.

“We are calling on the police and the judiciary for more support. We may also consider engaging the Malawi Defense Force so that we deal with the problem,” Nangoma said.

However, Nangoma said cases of vandalism have gone down in 2024 as compared to 2023 as only seven kilometres of the perimeter fence has been vandalized against last year’s 29 kilometres.

He said African Parks has invested in more hospitality infrastructure within Nkhotakota Game Reserve citing the completion of Livwezi Bush Camp which is now operational and Navunde Tourism Stop-Over which is still under construction.

During the meeting, various stakeholders expressed concern that the laws of the country do not provide compensation to victims of human-animal conflict, specifically in cases where animals kill or injure people and destroy crops.

Member of Parliament for Kasungu East, Madalitso Kazombo, said there is need for the park authorities to conduct a study on how other countries are managing such cases so that legislators are guided on whether there is a need to change the law.

He said: “We need to be guided if there is a need to change the laws on compensation because I understand that laws must be progressive, active and able to solve people’s challenges.

“We should protect our people but at the same time we do not want to create laws that will negatively affect tourism, so we need to be guided so that we learn on how we can proceed.”

In most southern and east African countries, laws do not provide for compensation to victims of human and wildlife conflicts.

In her remarks, Kasungu District Council Chairperson, Mwambilaso Mbedza said tourism is one of the government’s priority areas hence the need for stakeholders to be in the same direction to ensure that parks and game reserves are protected.

Nkhotakota is the country’s oldest and largest game reserve and was home to over 1,500 elephants, but the population fell to less than 100 in 2015, forcing authorities to translocate 500 elephants from Liwonde and Majete in 2017.

Through conservation works, African Parks has also brought in 850 different species of animals to improve animal sightings and attract more tourists.

By Lisa Lamya

Blantyre, August 15, Mana: In a bid to prevent iron deficiency and anaemia in adolescent girls between the ages of 10 and 19, a German KFW funded project is providing the girls with Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplements.

The development is said to be addressing the problem of absenteeism among female learners especially during their menstrual period.

Ivy Mbalame, a Standard 8 learner at Mwayi Primary School in Mgalamadzi Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Machinjiri in Blantyre told Malawi News Agency (Mana) on the side-lines of a media tour that ever since she started taking the tablets her well-being has improved.

“During our menstruation period, we lose some essential nutrients but we get iron tablets which replenish those lost nutrients,” Mbalame said.

Before receiving the tablets, the girls are given nutritious porridge, according to Eveless Ntope, a Sanitation Health and Nutrition (SHN) teacher at Mwayi Primary school.

“It is difficult for some families to provide nutritious food to their children, as such we give them IFA supplements so that they reduce the risk of developing iron deficiency and anaemia,” Ntope said.  

Ntope said the learners receive IFA supplements once a week.

The KFW project is being implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund in collaboration with Farmers Union of Malawi and Malawi Government.

By Yamikani Yapuwa

Thyolo, August 15, Mana: In a bid to alleviate the longstanding issue of inadequate primary school facilities, Thyolo District Council has launched the construction of a new school known as Thyolo Boma Primary School.

Speaking during the launch, Thyolo District Commissioner, Hudson Kuphanga said the one storey infrastructure with a capacity of 240 pupils will expand access to quality education.

“The construction of this primary school will reduce the persistent problem of inadequate primary schools in Thyolo; thereby, increasing access for learners to quality education services,” said Kuphanga.

He noted that the project has several positive impacts including reducing overcrowding in existing schools, shortening the distance learners have to endure to attend school and improving the pupil-classroom ratio.

“Our children from this area cover distances of more than five kilometres on a daily basis to attend classes which is a demotivating factor on its own in their pursuit for education.

“So, the coming of this school will reduce the distance as well as decongest Mpinji, Nachipere, Adolorata and Mbandanga primary schools,” said the DC.

Kuphanga also called for collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of the project.

“We request all stakeholders, including the community, political leaders, contractors and all relevant structures to collaborate effectively for the success of this project,” he added.

Member of Parliament for Thyolo Central, Ben Phiri said he was pleased with the development, calling it ‘a dream come true’ for the community.

“The community is excited and I am excited too. Our children who were walking long distances will be relieved and we hope that the construction work proceeds as planned,” the legislator said.

Director of Education, Youth and Sports for Thyolo, Rabbie Kawalala noted that the project marks a positive step towards addressing the district’s critical shortage of classroom space.

Kawalala disclosed that the district currently serves 211 331 primary school learners, 104 286 boys and 107 045 girls with just 1 813 classrooms, leading to a pupil-classroom ratio of 117:1.

“This means that 51% of the pupils are forced to learn in open spaces. With the current enrolment, the district needs 3 522 classrooms to meet the recommended ratio of 60 pupils per classroom, highlighting a shortfall of 1 709 classrooms,” Kawalala explained.

The K598 million project which is part of World Bank's GESD project, consists of a one-storey school block comprising of four classrooms with a capacity of 60 desks each, two VIP latrines for leaners each with three drop holes, one room on each block, will have disability friendly facilities and two teacher’s houses.

The project is expected to be completed within 150 days.