MANAonline
Catholic Bishops conference underway
By Golden Kang'oma
Salima, July 18, Mana: A Conference of Catholic Church leaders from Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe is currently taking place in Salima district, where, among other things, it will address the challenges facing the church and the countries in attendance.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Pope's Envoy to Malawi and Zambia, Gian Luca Perici, advised the Catholic Church to promote unity among people.
Meanwhile, Archbishop, Ignatius Chama from Zambia has stated that the conference would help advance various works within the Catholic Church.
There is hope that the conference will discuss ways to promote unity, leadership, spiritual growth, justice among people, and environmental change.
More than 25 Bishops from the three countries are participating in the conference.
PS satisfied with classroom block project
By Joseph Ligowe
Blantyre, 17 July, Mana: Principal Secretary responsible for Basic Education in the Ministry of Education, Dr. Racheal Chimbwete Phiri has expressed satisfaction with progress of the construction work of a classroom block at Sigelege Primary School in Blantyre under Malawi Education Reform Program (MERP), which runs from 2021 to 2025.
Speaking after the inspection tour on Tuesday, Phiri said the project which is being implemented in all districts with support from World Bank and Global Partnership for Education is going on well especially the one she visited at Sigelege.
“I am very satisfied with the steady progress and quality of the work being done by the contractor, I believe by the end of next month, roofing will be done as well.
“We believe that learners cannot concentrate in class if they learn under trees. All we want is to create a conducive learning environment for our children which will help to improve their performance in class,” she added.
Phiri therefore commended communities around Sigelege Primary School for providing labour, sand and water during the construction work, saying the gesture demonstrates their support to child education.
Head teacher of Sigelege School, Patricia Kamphamtengo hailed Ministry of Education for including her school in the implementation of MERP project saying the new classroom block will improve accommodation of learners and will help to create conducive learning environment.
“Initially, we had 12 classrooms and we could not manage to accommodate all learners at once hence some learners were learning in the afternoon while others in the morning. We will have additional two classrooms making it 14 and this will accommodate some learners,” added Kamphamtengo.
She also pledged to take good care of the newly constructed classroom block to benefit the current and future generation of the learners.
Malawi to commemorate International Albinism Awareness Day in Rumphi
By Memory Khutuliwa
Blantyre, July 17, Mana: Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare in collaboration with the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) joins the rest of the world to commemorate world albinism day in Rumphi on 31 July to raise awareness on the need to protect persons with albinism during the election period.
According to the press release signed by Dr. Nertha Semphere Mgala, states that this day was designated by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on December, 18, 2014 with the aim of creating awareness on albinism.
Malawi will commemorate the day under the theme ‘United to empower and protect persons with albinism during the period of elections’.
According to the press release, the global theme is; ‘10 years of International Albinism Awareness Day: a decade of collective progress’.
In the press release, Dr. Mgala stated that the local theme is aimed at advocating for national unity in safeguarding the right of the life of persons with albinism by creating a safe and secure period of elections.
“Statistics shows that most of the reported albinism related cases of attacks in Malawi have occurred during times of elections. The theme, therefore calls national unity and collaboration among stakeholders during 2025 tripartite elections,” read the press release.
According the press release, the local theme further calls for an inclusive electoral process that gives equal opportunity to persons with albinism to participate in the elections as voters and contest as candidates
APAM National Coordinator, Maynard Zakaria said every year Malawi holds Albinism Awareness Day on June 13 and this year the commemoration is set to take place on 31 July.
“We failed to commemorate it on June 13 because we were in the mourning period of the Vice President and eight others. We therefore shifted the date to July 31 at Rumphi stadium,” said Zakaria.
Zakaria explained that the First lady of the Republic of Malawi, Monica Chakwera is the proposed guest of honour at the commemoration in Rumphi.
“It is important to commemorate this day because it raises awareness on issues that affects persons with albinism so the nation should take right decisions and actions in responding positively on issues that affect persons with albinism,” he said.
He added that some of the activities on the commemoration day include media training on proper reporting on issues to do with albinism, which will be held in Mzuzu and speeches.
“The attacks on persons with albinism and other related crimes have dropped but as a country it is important to continue doing campaigns to make sure that we don’t go back to the situation we had,” Zakaria added.
Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare therefore urged individuals and organizations to continue promoting and protecting rights of persons with albinism in the country.
Deputy Minister regrets MSCE geography anomaly
By Maston Kaiya
Ntcheu, July 17, Mana: Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Chaola Mdooko says the technical anomaly that was discovered on Tuesday during the ongoing Malawi School Certificate of Education Examinations (MSCE) Geography paper 1 where a map meant for question 1 was missing is worrisome.
She made the remarks on Wednesday morning after monitoring the administration of the MSCE at Ntcheu Secondary School.
Mdooko however described the mistake as a technical issue saying the matter has now been resolved.
"As you are aware, the Malawi National Examination Board started the administration of the examinations in May with the Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) then in June it was the Junior Certificate Examinations and now it is the MSCE which is progressing well despite yesterday's challenge," she said.
During the tour, Mdooko also visited Nachitheme and Khola Community Day Secondary Schools in Ntcheu district.
MSCE examinations started on 2nd July, 2024 and are expected to end on 26th July, 2024 with Metalwork and Woodwork Papers 2 (Practical’s).
Committee lauds Ntchisi council on GESD projects
By James Mwale
Ntchisi, July 17, Mana: Parliamentary Committee on Local Authority and Rural Development has commended Ntchisi district council for effectively implementing projects under the Governance to Enable Service Delivery (GESD).
The committee visited the district’s council on Tuesday to appreciate how GESD-funded projects were being implemented.
The committee's Chairperson, Horace Chipuwa, said after inspecting Masangano primary school block and Malomo market rural electrification project that the council is performing extremely well in the implementation of the country’s developments.
“It is common practice for project implementers to abuse development funds. But we admire your level of commitment and are impressed with what we have seen,” said Chipuwa.
The committee particularly appreciated the accountability in the expenditure of the project funds as presented by the council’s Director of Public Works (DPW), Dominic Dzinkambani.
Appreciating the recognition of the council’s outstanding work, the District’s Commissioner, Lusizi Nhlane said: “It feels great that our performance, which is a result of dedication and discipline by the council’s respective team, has been recognized.”
The K19.7 Million Market Rural Electrification project supplies power to over 40 shops at Malomo Trading Center market and the K40.2 million Masangano school block accommodates 120 learners and also received 120 desks.
The school block has helped to decongest the learner population, retain learners in school and reduce absenteeism and dropout rates according to the school’s head teacher, Andrew Kalikuni.
DC cautions Area Executive Committee members against partisan politics
By Memory Kutengule Chatonda
Blantyre, July 17, Mana: District Commissioner for Blantyre, Alex Mdooko has advised Area Executive Committee (AEC) members that are mostly tasked to provide technical guidance to communities when revamping Area Development Committees (ADCs) and Village Development Committees (VDCs), to desist from partisan politics in the course of their duties.
Mdooko said this on Tuesday in Blantyre during the orientation meeting of 60 AEC members on revamping of the community level development structurers.
Mdooko said AEC members as technocrats, are expected to put partisan politics aside and work with the communities at the community level to provide guidance on what constitutes ADCs and VDCs, including the roles of the development structures in promoting sustainable development in the district.
"Man is political by nature, and we know that in the villages, there is a lot of politics that takes place. We are strongly advising the AEC members to do their work as technocrats, not as politicians to politicize every task.
"They should not engage in party politics. They should rather be revamping development committee structures," he said.
The DC then expressed optimism that the AEC members, through their guidance to communities, will ensure that respective areas have development structures led by opinion leaders to oversee project planning, management and implementation on top of developing Village Level Action Plans.
He also commended the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust, Foundation for Civic Education and Social Empowerment and other non-governmental organizations for supporting the council in orienting the EAC members.
Revamping of ADCs and VDCs is expected to start soon in the areas of Mudi, Kapeni Chisenjere, Machinjiri Mtenje, Chilaweni, and Kuntaja.
NICE Trust Pogrammes Officer for Blantyre rural and urban, Glory Ngosi Maulidi, said that NICE, Trust through its programmes of promoting democracy and governance, intends to work with the well-organized local structures that understand their roles in project implementation, monitoring, as well as service delivery tracking, hence offering support to the activity.
"Additionally, we want to see members of the local structures knowing their roles so that they build capacity among the grassroots for them to ably understand their roles and participate in development activities fully," she said.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Patrick Kakande hailed the Blantyre district council for orienting the AEC members to understand their roles and responsibilities.
He therefore, pledged to work with a high sense of professionalism when carrying out assigned task in their respective duty stations. adding that the AEC members were ready to provide necessary guidance to the local citizenry when revamping the ADCs and VDCs and also make them understand their roles in development.
AEC is composed of extension workers from various sectors such as agriculture, community development, health, forestry among others that work in various tradition authorities.
Last year in August, government through the Ministry of Local Government, Unity, and Culture, ordered the reconstitution of all VDCs and ADCs due to allegedly rampant corruption among the members.
MACRA creates an interactive forum with operators and consumers
By Sheminah Nkhoma
Lilongwe, July 17, Mana: In line with Malawi 2063, the government through the Ministry of Information and Digitalisation is investing in crucial ICT, infrastructure, promoting digital literacy and skills development and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.
Secretary for Information and Digitalisation Baldwin Chiyamwaka disclosed this on Wednesday at Bingu international Convention Center (BICC) in Lilongwe where the Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is holding an ‘Open week’ which is aimed at providing interactive forum with operators and consumers.
Chiyamwaka said the Open Week offers an opportunity for all stakeholders to collectively work together to foster a vibrant and inclusive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector in Malawi.
“Government is committed in promoting ICT and has different initiatives in motion like the installation of free public Wi-Fi at various sites, such as markets and airports, and the development of the Malawi Interoperability and Data Exchange Platform (Enterprise Service Bus).
“A number of ICT labs are being constructed in community day secondary schools to promote use of ICT services and the provision of Wi-Fi internet services and the provision of Wi-Fi internet connectivity,” he said.
MACRA Board Chairperson, Bridget Chibwana said MACRA will continue with the open days to enhance interaction with players in the digital and telecommunications sector.
She said through this Open week, MACRA is committed to ensuring that its actions and decisions are open to scrutiny and that stakeholders have a clear understanding of regulatory requirements and processes.
“During this week, we will highlight key projects, innovations, and initiatives that are shaping the future of the ICT sector in Malawi. These include advancements in digital infrastructure, efforts to enhance connectivity, and initiatives aimed at bridging the digital divide,” explained Chibwana.
At the Open Day the regulatory authority interacted with directors, current licensees, prospective licensees, consumers and other players in the digital and telecommunication industry to highlight MACRA's mandate and key development projects.
Malawians urged to promote SMEs
By Salome Gangire
Neno, July 17, Mana: Minister of Trade and Industry, Sosten Gwengwe has urged Malawians to promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and cooperatives by buying their products.
He was speaking on Tuesday at Nthena Cooperative in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Symon where he visited three cooperatives under UMODZI Consulting Limited.
The Minister said primary market for business people is the local market, adding that there was need to provide good market for locally produced goods other than buying imported goods.
“Our moral responsibility as Malawians is to promote our own SMEs and cooperatives and this should start by buying their products. When we buy imported goods, we are promoting oversees SMEs and at the same time we are creating jobs for people outside Malawi at the expense of our fellow Malawians,” Gwengwe added.
The Minister said in countries like Kenya, the cooperative movement is huge because they support one another by buying locally produced goods.
Gwengwe said government would make sure that Malawians buy locally produced and manufactured goods through the Buy Malawi campaign.
The Minister urged farmers to form cooperatives and adopt integrated farming systems and to venture into value additional for easy markets and profit making.
He said his Ministry under Department of Cooperatives is training farmers, putting them in cooperatives so that they should produce quality goods in large quantities.
“I am impressed with the quality and variety of crops grown by the farmers at the cooperatives and am glad that the cooperative movement is not only transforming the nutrition status of the people but also their livelihood,” Gwengwe said.
The Minister disclosed that government would table a Control of Goods Act in the September, 2024 Parliament sitting so as to amend it and make regulations on the list of products that could be put under licence to promote industries that should in turn create more jobs.
Country Programmes Coordinator for USADF, Linda Ndovi said USADF work with SMEs and cooperatives that are doing value additional in the agri-business sector and the youth among others.
She emphasized the importance of employing environmentally friendly farming techniques.
Chairperson of Matembe Cooperative Producers Ltd, Mighty Feremu said LIP help them to improve nutrition status of people in the area as they grow a variety of crops and rearing livestock.
He said the agricultural activities improved cooperative member’s livelihood as they sell crops and buy shares in the cooperative.
Feremu asked the Ministry of Trade and Industry to help them get registered with the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) so that they are able to supply their goods to big markets and chain stores.
The Cooperatives are part of the 14 cooperatives in Neno District under the Livelihood Improvement Project (LIP) being implemented by Umodzi Consulting with funding from Helmsley Charitable Trust through the United States African Development Foundation (USADF).
Over 4, 417 participants in the 14 cooperatives benefit from the project in the district of which 2,268 are patients suffering from non-communicable diseases.
Chikwawa DC commended for punctuality
By Leah Malimbasa
Chikwawa, July 17, Mana: Vice President, Dr. Micheal Usi Wednesday made a surprised visit to Chikwawa District Council offices to observe the efforts being made to improve services for Malawians and the officers’ punctuality.
He arrived before 8 am at the Council was impressed to find District Commissioner, Nardin Kamba in his office.
Usi commended Kamba for leading by his example.
During his visit to the hospital, the Vice President expressed his appreciation for the services provided.
"I’m here for time management; so, I have to respect time too and allow you to proceed with your assignments for the day," he said.
USI enquired from the Director of Health Services, Dr. Grace Momba about challenges being faced at the hospital and the sector in genera
In her response, she mentioned infrastructure development and outreach services being implemented through Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs).
The Vice President visited the Pediatric Ward, where he interacted with patients and inspected ongoing rehabilitation work at the district hospital.
On the challenges, Usi advised that the officers should not to rely on government alone, but to write proposals to address some of the challenges.
Commenting on the visit, Kamba said he was happy to host the Vice President in Chikwawa District.
She said that, “His presence at our district council and hospital has encouraged us to continue working hard and providing health care and other related services in the district.
"It provided us with a valuable opportunity to showcase our achievements and discuss future initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of our communities.”
On the need to source development funds through proposals, Kamba said the Council has taken that route and currently they have won € 1 million grant from European Union (EU).
After leaving the hospital, Usi stopped at Thabwa and interacted with the market vendors.
MWASIP for restoration of degraded land
By Beatrice Bangula
Blantyre, July 17, Mana: Communities of Group Village Head (GVH) Kunthembwe have advised to restore degraded land and adhere to modern and environmental friendly agricultural practices.
MWASIP Technical Team member, Boniface Kaulembe said this Tuesday at Kunthembwe Village in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Kunthembwe during the launch of Malawi Watershed Services Improvement Project (MWASIP) at Blantyre.
He said communities are expected to adopt conservation agricultural practices and should help to increase their food production for sustainable livelihood.
Kaulembe He said MWASIP objectives include mobilizing communities to carry out activities to do with sustainable land management that are meant to increase food production and at the same time conserve and protect the environment.
“With such objectives, we are today launching activities so that farmers should continue doing activities that should help to address land degradation,” he added.
Communities at Kunthembwe in Blantyre rural are expected to participate in afforestation, conservation agriculture and other related activities that are meant to restore watershed in the area.
“There are a lot of activities which MWASIP is promoting ranging from afforestation to manure making and other practices that are meant to restore degraded land to conserve water,” Kaulembe said, adding that farming communities are encouraged to practice homestead farming which promote issues to do with nutrition.
“We are encouraging farmers to use manure from livestock so that they should apply in their homestead gardens,” Kaulembe added.
Director of Agricultural Services for Blantyre District Council, Edward Katunga said land degradation in form of soil erosion is going out of hand that needs urgent intervention to check the trend.
He commended MWASIP for launching watershed management at Traditional Kunthembwe’s area and expressed hope that communities would adopt correct practices that should help to address land degradation.
“We hope, we will achieve sustainable practices in afforestation and other agricultural practices that will address issues to do with land degradation,” the Director added.
Senior Chief Kunthembwe said the launch was relevant saying his subjects would learn a lot from MWASIP activities which are expected to promote catchment management and other environmental and agricultural related activities.
“The launch has come at the right time and I hope that my subjects will learn a lot of activities. We have seen how manure is made and have seen importance of swalles which keep water in the gardens,” he added.
MWASIP encourage communities to rear small and large livestock at household level for food nutrition and for cost effective soli improvement.
The launch at Group Village head, Kunthembwe provided an opportunity for community members and other stakeholders in agriculture and environment sector to showcase a lot of activities such as making and use of energy efficiency stoves that are meant to discourage overdependence of large volumes of firewood at household level.
