MANAonline
Chakwera says bilateral relations with Mozambique critical for development
By Sarah Munthali
Lilongwe, August 14, Mana: President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera has said strengthening bilateral relations with Mozambique is critical in enhancing development between the two countries.
The President made the remarks on Wednesday at Kamuzu International Airport before his departure for Maputo, Mozambique for a two day official visit.
Chakwera said at the invitation of his Mozambican counterpart, President Fillipe Nyusi, the two will discuss how the two governments can cement existing bilateral relations in critical areas of human and economic development such as trade and investment.
"This week the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) will also hold a Heads of State Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe. The two events, demonstrate that we are part of the region and we have excellent ties with our neighbours," he stated.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is expected that the two governments of Malawi and Mozambique will also sign agreements in several areas of joint permanent cooperation.
After the Mozambique visit, President Chakwera will proceed to Harare, Zimbabwe where he will attend the 44th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government to be held on August 17, 2024.
BCC set to establish modern amusement parks
By Arnold Namanja
Blantyre, August 13, Mana: Blantyre City Council (BCC) will soon establish modern amusement parks and recreation centres within the central business district following a successful public private partnership agreement signed between the council and Jura Adventures.
The Public Private Partnership Commission (PPPC) negotiated the K4 billion contract on behalf of BCC to have Jura Adventures develop two existing parks into modern amusement centres at Rangely along the Victoria Avenue and at the Catholic Institute popularly known as CI.
Among other amenities, the parks would have such facilities like restaurants, swimming pool, a music studio and other child friendly attractions in its pursuit to be an entertainment as well as an edutainment centre.
Speaking in an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on the sidelines of the contract agreement ceremony in Blantyre on Monday, PPPC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Patrick Kabambe said he partnership between BCC and Jura Adventures was a manifestation of the influence of public-private collaboration in driving economic growth.
He emphasized that public-private agreements have the potential to bring huge economic benefits to both parties in the partnership as well as to beneficiary city residents.
He said the commission has the duty to facilitate and negotiate for viable and meaningful partnerships between public-private sector in Malawi to ensure transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
“This partnership is a great milestone for the commission as it would help BCC to develop economically by contributing to infrastructure development of the commercial city of Blantyre.
“When delivered, the parks will not only improve the social profile of the city but also offer international tourism experience to residents and visitors to the city,” the CEO added.
CEO for BCC, Denis Chinseu said the council was looking forward to realizing urbanization in alignment with the Malawi 2063 Agenda to have modern infrastructure, which corresponds to the agriculture, tourism and mining aspiration strategy.
“The parks will be tailor-made to take on board the expectations and demands of families and children in particular seeking luxury and leisure in a profitable manner. Blantyre is the easiest way to connect to other countries in the region like Mozambique, so we expect a huge traffic of tourists when this is completed.
“The facilities will have the potential to change the mindset of Malawians through its wide range of mental, physical and social activities that will be on offer once completed and open to the public,” Chinseu said.
The BCC chief said the recreation parks would also complement the green and beauty aspiration of the city council. He said the facilities would also lead to increased revenue generation through user fees and other paying services at the centre.
He, therefore, disclosed that the procurement process of the contract was very transparent which followed all public procurement and disposal of assets procedures with Jura Adventures, a local company winning the bid.
On his part, Board Chairperson of Jura Adventures, Charles Zimba, the company tasked to do the project, concurred with Chinseu, saying the procurement process of the contract was very transparent and rigorous, disclosing that it dates back to 2013 when initial negotiations were initiated.
Charles Zimba pledged to deliver a good quality facility, which would stand the taste of time; saying: “We will not disappoint; we are very family friendly in our approach to service delivery.”
He said the unit would provide family entertainment and edutainment so that children don’t only play but have some education programmes which would enhance their social skills and develop mentally.
Zimba added that the facilities would also contribute to the tourism sector in Malawi by attracting local and international tourists, noting that the project would, on one hand, create wealth and jobs in the course of its construction.
The construction of the facilities expected to begin in the next two months will be done in a period of 12 months before being delivered to the client (BCC).
Nzeka Arts to host Talent Show
By Alex Kachingwe
Blantyre, August 13, Mana: Blantyre based Nzeka Arts has organized Talent Show dubbed: Luso Langa Talent Exhibition, scheduled for September 1st 2024 at Chichiri Museum in the city as one way of promoting music, poetry, drama, storytelling and dances to embrace Malawian culture along the various art disciplines.
Nzeka Arts Director, Harris Kamwendo told Malawi News Agency on Tuesday that the Talent Show was planned to create a platform where the youths can showcase talent through various art disciplines such as music, poetry, theatre and dances.
“It has been noted that a lot of talented youths fail to incorporate Malawian cultural elements in their artistic work and this is why Luso Langa Talent Exhibition has been organized to provide a platform to upcoming artists to showcase their talents and also learn how to fuse Malawian culture into their piece of art,” he added.
Kamwendo said the event will target both upcoming artists and those already in the industry, expressing hope that the upcoming artists will learn more from experienced artists to embrace Malawian culture.
Canaan Savala, a member and dramatist at Nzeka Arts, hailed the Luso Langa Talent Exhibition, saying it has the potential to promote upcoming artists through interaction with experienced artists that will perform at the event.
He added that talent shows were an important arena to discuss a wide range of issues and was hopeful that various social concerns that affect the youth such as suicide, drug and substance abuse and mental health will be tackled through music, dance, poetry, drama and storytelling.
Lloyd Phaundi popularly known as Agorosso, an Afro-Jazz artist will be the guest artist to spice up the event with his local music.
Nzeka Arts was established in 2020 with an aim of cultivating, nurturing and exposing hidden talent among young people through music, poetry, drama and at the same time using the talent to address social issues.
Police arrest four in Mangochi for killing suspected thief
By Ernest Mfunya
Mangochi, August 13, Mana. Police at Koche in Mangochi district on Saturday arrested four men on allegations that they assaulted to death Isaac Mbendera, 29, of Khumunye Village, Traditional Authority (TA) M'biza in Zomba, after he was caught red-handed stealing goats.
Mangochi Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Amina Tepani Daudi identified the four suspects as Mtenje Salanje (kraal owner), 50, Felix Maunda, 45, Shadreck Jailosi, 48, and Christopher Mkwate, 48.
According to Daudi, it is alleged that Mbendera, now deceased, and his two unidentified accomplices broke into Salanje's goat kraal within his compound on the night of July 19, 2024, at Chipoka Village around Maldeco Trading Centre.
“The owner was awoken by the bleating of the goats and shouted for help upon noticing the presence of the thieves. This prompted neighbors, including the other mentioned suspects, to mobilize themselves such that Mbendera was captured after he failed to escape with his motorcycle, while the other two fled,
“The mob assaulted Mbendera with stones, sticks, and metal objects before abandoning him. The matter was reported to Koche Police Unit, whose officers rushed to the scene and took Mbendera to Mangochi District Hospital where he was pronounced dead while receiving treatment,” Daudi said, adding that Mbendera died due internal bleeding.
She said that police initiated investigations that led to the arrest of the four suspects, adding that investigations are going on to apprehend the remaining ones.
According to Daudi, the three will answer murder charges, which contravenes Section 209 of the Penal Code, adding that the suspects will appear before court after completion of all paperwork.
Meanwhile, Police in the district is appealing to the public to avoid taking the law into their own hands saying mob justice is illegal and mostly frustrates crime investigations.
The four come from Chipoka Village, Traditional Authority Mponda in Mangochi.
First Lady call for fight against cybercrime
By Patience Longwe
Lilongwe, August 13, Mana; First lady Madame Monica Chakwera has called on communities to empower women and girls in the fight against cybercrime.
Speaking on Wednesday during the commencement of a three-days second edition of the 2024 women and girls Conference at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), in Lilongwe, Chakwera emphasized that as innovators and leaders, women possess unique skills and perspectives that are essential in combating cybercrime.
"I am confident that our male counterparts will join us in this endeavor. Together, men and women can fortify our resilience against the digital threats.
"Let us utilise this conference as a platform to exchange best practices, establish new partnerships, and ignite a fervor in young women and girls who will spearhead cybersecurity in the future," Chakwera added.
Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu said government is committed to ensuring that girls actively engage in the digital realm in a secure manner.
"We are engaging in these dialogues to shed light on the government's initiatives, policies, and regulations aimed at enabling our girls to articulate the challenges they encounter in the cyber domain," kunkuyu said.
Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (Macra) Board chairperson, Bridget Chibwana underscored the significance of the conference, saying it will foster a supportive and inclusive environment where young girls and women can explore various career paths and opportunities in cybersecurity.
"Our endeavors today seamlessly align with the Malawi 2063 vision, which seeks to elevate Malawi into an inclusively prosperous and self-reliant industrialized upper-middle-income nation.
"By empowering women in cybersecurity, we are advancing the realization of this vision, ensuring that digitalization and technological progress are inclusive and beneficial to all sectors of our society" she said.
Macra is hosting a three-day conference aimed at Inspiring the next generation and empowering future women cybersecurity professionals.
Salima District Council applauds CS-EPWP participants' commitment
By Lekereni Chinkhota
Salima, August 13, MANA: Salima District Council has applauded participants under Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) for their commitment towards environmental restoration initiatives.
Speaking on Monday at Gwirize catchment, District Project Facilitator, Josephine Ngaivale said people participating in the programme are doing a commendable job since its commencement in 2022, and that there is no major setback such as boycotting work.
"We have started payments as a district and have made good progress. Salima is one of the few districts that have started payments for this cycle. We appreciate the dedication of people to work with us in restoring the degraded land in the district.
"So far we have not encountered any major challenges with the participants. Most of the things that we are facing is lack of documentation for the participants to receive their wages. For example, not having national IDs, some are using other people's names something we do not allow as per project criteria." She said.
A participant from Nnoloma village in the area of Senior Chief Pemba, Patson Wisiki said the programme has helped his family in many ways, hence his dedication to participate and work in all activities being assigned.
"This programme has benefited me so much in the past cycles. I have managed to buy maize and fertilizer for my household, but also to buy uniforms and books for my children to excel in their education,” he said.
Wisiki emphasized that it is important to take care of the family needs before using the money for other purposes.
Concurring with Wisiki, another participant from Chindungwa 2, Aisha Chapola said she will use the money to buy school uniform and pay for her children's school fund.
She however said the money is not enough to cater for all her family's needs and appealed to government increase the wages.
"The money is little and most of the times its delayed. We fail to take care of our families with it because its little," she said.
Salima is expected to finish the payments in 24 days starting with large catchments which are 8 in total.
The district has 18 catchments, of which 10 are model ones while eight are standard catchments where CS-EPWP is being implemented.
CS-EPWP is a component under the Social Support for Resilient Livelihoods Project (SSRLP). The SSRLP is a Malawi Government project funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund facilitated by the NLGFC in all the 28 district councils.
All set for Catholic National Youth Conference
By Pempho Nkhoma
Blantyre, August 13, Mana: The Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has organized a National Youth Conference under the theme; Fight the good fight of faith.
The conference will be held from 14 to 18 August at Limbe Cathedral where over 300 delegates from all eight catholic dioceses in Malawi are expected to attend.
Youth Chaplain for the Archdiocese of Blantyre, Father Francisco Hau, told Malawi News Agency (Mana) in an interview on Tuesday that the conference was meant to help the youth to grow strong in faith and be responsible citizens.
He said the conference expects to hear youth`s life experiences and discuss issues that should help them understand their role in the church and society.
“Youths have to learn to fight a good fight of faith in a world where there is a lot of noise and many teachings that are contrary to the word of God. The youths should learn how to make good and informed decisions based on good faith,
“The theme of the conference is taken from the first latter of Saint Paul to Timothy (Timothy 6:2) and the conference will have various facilitators,” he said, adding the national youth conference will help the youth to grow strong both physically and spiritually.
Hau said at the end of the conference, youths will be commissioned to train fellow youths in their respective dioceses on issues that will be discussed at the conference.
He disclosed that this was the first time that the Blantyre Archdiocese will host a national youth conference and said the Archdiocese was looking forward to such conferences as right places to deepen the Christian faith, apart from discussing issues that affect the new generation.
National Youth Conference organizing chairperson, Davidson Dafullen confirmed that all was set to host the youths from all catholic dioceses in Malawi.
“We are expecting to have over 300 youth representatives from all dioceses in the country,” he said.
National Coordinator of Catholic Scouts, Deodatus Muriya told Mana in an interview that he was looking forward to benefit a lot from the conference.
“I am excited and ready for the conference. We are hoping that it will help us strengthen our faith and learn from one another on how we can grow spiritually,” he said.
Facilitators at the conference will be the Most Reverend George Tambala, Archbishop of Lilongwe, Most Reverend Thomas Msusa, Archbishop of Blantyre, Right Reverend Martin Mtumbuka, Bishop of Kalonga Diocese and the Right Reverend Alfred Chaima, Bishop of Zomba Dioceses,
Other facilitators will be; Reverend Father Kinley Cosmas, Monsignor Henry Chinkanda, Miss Mandinda Zungu and Mr. Andrew Kavala.
Youth delegates will come from the dioceses of Chikwawa, Blantyre, Zomba, Mangochi, Dedza, Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Karonga.
GBA engages Nthola-Ilola Irrigation scheme users on corruption
By George Mponda
Karonga, August 13, Mana: Greenbelt Authority (GBA), Monday sensitised members of Nthola-Ilola Irrigation Scheme in Karonga on the existence of an Institutional Integrity Commitee which deals with corruption at the scheme.
Speaking on Monday in Karonga during an Institutional Integrity Committee (IIC) sensitization meeting organized by GBA in collaboration with the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB), ' Public Relations Officer for GBA, Sam Majamanda said the National Anti-Corruption Strategy Two, calls for the formulation of the committee in all public institutions.
"After its establishment, an institution is required to inform the people which it serves of the committee’s functions, hence this initiative to sensitize beneficiaries of Nthola-Ilola Irrigation Scheme where construction of an irrigation facility is underway.
“The GBA operates from Lilongwe while here on the ground, community members are our eyes as such they are better placed to identify and report any suspected corruption issues taking place, especially during the construction phase," said Majamanda.
Corruption Prevention Officer for ACB, Gloria Chikhambi said the commitee promotes a culture of integrity.
"All ministries, departments and agencies are supposed to have it and we are encouraging them to ensure that it is active to enhance the fight against corruption in the country," said Chikhambi.
Secretary for Nthola-Ilola Water Users Association, Brenda Mhango said the initiative will help root out all elements of corruption which might exist at the scheme.
"We have been sensitized on the existence of the IIC and we now know who to report to in case of suspected corrupt activities," Mhango said.
Mzimba CS-EPWP participants told to use money prudently
By Joel Phiri
Mzimba, August 13, Mana: District Commissioner for Mzimba, Rodney Simwaka has urged particiants of the Climate Smart Enhanced Public Works Programme (CS-EPWP) in the district to use their payments wisely.
Simwaka made the remarks on Monday at Kaumphu Primary School in Traditional Authority Chindi in the district during a pay parade to over 1,000 participants of the Third Cycle of the multi-donor-funded climate smart program.
At least 1,000 community members from villages under Group Village head Chitapamoyo are part of over 15,000 participants from 19 catchment areas in Mzimba set to receive payments for having taken part in restoring degraded landscapes.
According to Mzimba district land resource officer, Oliver Nyalira, the people promoted natural regeneration, afforestation, making contour marker ridges, and gully reclamation, among others.
In his remarks, Simwaka said donors are funding the climate-smart program by investing huge sums of money to repair the damaged environment and stop the effects of climate change which are impacting negatively on people.
‘‘We are facing effects of climate change in terms of poor harvest in our farms and even destructive heavy rains. Donors are interested in stopping such phenomena by investing in programs such as climate-smart. Some of these things we are witnessing are the effects of climate change. As beneficiaries let's work hard at ensuring we restore degraded environments and not just look at the monetary value of working in the fields and forests, let's look at the benefit of caring for the land we live on,’’ said Simwaka.
He further urged the people to put the money received to good use and not squander it on trivia.
‘‘The money you are receiving today is meant to compensate you for the work you undertook in restoring the environment and you should use it prudently by investing in improving your households and not buying beer. Let the money benefit your families, ’’ he said.
One of the recipients Abner Phiri from Chandodo Village said he owns a garden and will invest some of the K38, 400 he received into buying seeds for the garden.
Another beneficiary Maria Moyo from Chakazi village hailed the programme for enabling them to work and get paid.
‘‘With this cash, I will buy food and other things for my household. I thank the donors and governments for starting to disburse the payments now when most of us are running out of food stocks, ’’ said Moyo.
The participants are receiving K38,400 up from the K28,000 they used to receive for working for 24 days in the past.
At least 15,000 participants are expected to receive their payments in Mzimba from 19 catchment areas.
CS-EPWP aims at addressing climate change and environmental degradation and promoting sustainable development in vulnerable communities.
It is a component of the social support for resilient livelihoods program which is being implemented through the National Local Government Finance Committee with support from the World Bank and the social protection multi-donor support.
Youths encouraged to take leadership positions
By Esther Ndhlozi and Grace Thesi
Mzuzu, August 13, Mana: Mzuzu Youth Association and Added Power Understanding Sustainable Education (APAUSE) jointly hosted a youth dialogue in Mzuzu on Monday, aimed at empowering youth leadership and fostering mindset transformation.
Speaking at the event, Mzuzu Youth coordinator, Francis Chirambo said the event was part of the commemoration for Youth International Day which falls on 12 August, every year.
Chirambo said the event was a necessary platform to empower youths to participate in the electoral processes by ensuring that they consider to take up leadership positions.
“As a way of remembering International Youth day we wanted to get this opportunity and empower the youth to take part in political decision making and opting to take part in political positions. They should not just be used as violence vessels during campaigns and elections” said chirambo.
He further said Mzuzu Youth Association being part of the youth NGOs body has a goal to reach out to all 15 Wards in the city to ensure that the youth are civic educated on the benefits of having a fair and credible presidential election.
“As an umbrella body for the youth organisations, we are committed to civic educate the youth concerning the upcoming elections. We would want them to consider candidates who have their interests at heart. They shouldn’t just vote for someone because they were bribed” said Chirambo.
Youth Coordinator for APAUSE, Maria Malaso said they are working hand in hand with the Mzuzu Youth Association office to encourage and educate young people on various issues.
“This event gave us an opportunity to reach out to the youths by civic educating them on issues concerning education, health, sexual reproductive health and climate change” said Mabaso.
She encouraged the youth to attend such functions since they talk of issues that are usually not discussed in cultural or religious settings because some content can be too sensitive.
Commenting on the matter, one of the youths who attended the event, Asimenye Mwaighogha hailed Mzuzu Youth Association and APPAUSE for bringing the youths together and equipping them with the confidence to take part in the 2025 elections.
